Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory Stimuli Significantly Change the miRNA Profile of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Background Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) have been shown to have immunoregulatory properties in many studies. However, the mechanisms remain unknown. miRNAs are associated with many cellular processes, including immune responses. Thus, we hypothesized that miRNAs act as immunoregulators when hASCs are stimulated by inflammatory environments. Methods A set of cytokines was used to stimulate the hASCs in the cytokine group, while no cytokines were used to stimulate the cells in the normal group. A microarray was used to obtain the miRNA expression profile of hASCs, and RT-PCR was used to validate the miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the two groups. Target genes were predicted using online databases, and KEGG analysis was performed to identify the pathways enriched by the target genes of all the differentially expressed miRNAs. Results Five miRNAs were significantly upregulated, and 2 miRNAs were downregulated in the cytokine group compared with the normal group. We identified several immune-related pathways that are targeted individually or collectively by those miRNAs. Conclusion Inflammatory stimuli changed the miRNA expression profile of hASCs. miRNAs may play a pivotal role in the immune response in hASCs and may be targets through which the immunoregulatory functions of hASCs can be enhanced.
Accumulation of 99Mo-containing Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor Precursors of Nitrogenase on NifNE, NifH, and NifX ofAzotobacter vinelandii *

The biosynthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) of nitrogenase was investigated using the purified in vitro FeMo-co synthesis system and 99Mo. The purified system involves the addition of all components that are known to be required for FeMo-co synthesis in their purified forms. Here, we report the accumulation of a 99Mo-containing FeMo-co precursor on NifNE. Apart from NifNE, NifH and NifX also accumulate 99Mo label. We present evidence that suggests NifH may serve as the entry point for molybdenum incorporation into the FeMo-co biosynthetic pathway. We also present evidence suggesting a role for NifX in specifying the organic acid moiety of FeMo-co.
Effect of a Lipid-Lowering Nutraceutical on Pulse-Wave-Velocity in Hypercholesterolemic Patients with or without Chronic Kidney Disease

The recent literature has put a large interest on nutraceuticals with lipid lowering activity for the management of moderate cholesterolemia in subjects with mildly increased cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to evaluate the middle-term effect of a combined lipid-lowering nutraceutical on lipid parameters and aortic stiffness. For this study we consecutively enrolled 40 moderately hypercholesterolemic outpatients with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 40 cross-matched hypercholesterolemic subjects without CKD. All the patient were treated daily with a combined nutraceutical containing red yeast rice (3 mg monacolin K) and berberine (500 mg). At the baseline and after 6 months of treatment we measured blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ematochemistry parameters. No significant change has been observed during the study in both groups regarding body mass index, blood pressure, liver transaminases, creatinin-phosfokinase and eGFR. In non CKD patients TC improved by (-21,6%), LDL-Cholesterol by (-24,2%), non HDL-Cholesterol (-24,0%) and TG (- 20,8%). In CKD patients TC improved by (-21,1%), LDL-Cholesterol by (-23,7%), non HDL-Cholesterol (-23,9%) and TG (- 20,4%). No difference among groups has been observed regarding the effects on lipid metabolism. The PWV has significantly improved in both groups (p<0.01) without differences between groups. In summary, a combined lipid-lowering nutraceutical improved lipid pattern and PWV in both non CKD and mild-to-
An Efficient Approach To Multi-layer Layer Assignment With Application To Via Minimization

In this paper, we present an efficient heuristic algorithmfor the layer assignment and via minimization problem formulti-layer gridless IC, PCB, and MCM layout.We introducethe notion of the extended conflict-continuation (ECC)graph to represent the multi-layer layer assignment problem.Our algorithm is based on a linear time optimal algorithmthat solves a special case of the layer assignment problemwhen the ECC graph is a tree.For the general layer assignmentconstructs a sequence of induced subtrees in theECC graph and applies our linear time optimal algorithmto each of the induced subtrees.We have applied this algorithmto the via minimization problem and get very encouragingresults.We have achieved 13%-16% via reduction onthe routing layout generated by V4R router, which is arouter known to have low usage of vias.We successfully appliedour algorithm to routing examples of over 30,000 wiresegments and over 40,000 vias.
Biochemical and biological characterization of Naja kaouthia venom from North-East India and its neutralization by polyvalent antivenom

This study describes biochemical and biological properties of Naja kaouthia (Indian monocled cobra) venom of North-East India. The LD50 of the crude venom was found to be 0.148mg/kg and neurotoxicitic symptoms like paralysis of lower limbs and heavy difficulty in breathing at sub-lethal dose in mice was observed. The venom exhibited PLA2, indirect hemolytic and myotoxic activities but showed weak proteolytic and low direct hemolytic activities. It did not exhibit any hemorrhage when injected intradermally to mice. Anticoagulant activity was prominent when recalcification, prothrombin and activated partial thrombinplastin time were tested on platelet poor plasma. Rotem analysis of whole citrated blood in presence of venom showed delay in coagulation time and clot formation time. Fibrinogen of whole citrated blood was depleted by venom when analyzed in Sonoclot. Crude venom at 10µg and after 16hr of incubation was found to degrade α chain of fibrinogen. Neutralization study showed that Indian polyvalent antivenom could neutralize some of the biochemical and biological activities as well as its fibrinogenolytic activity.
Correlations between EGFR gene polymorphisms and pleural metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma

Proliferation, growth, and differentiation of cells are strictly controlled by the signal system of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). If any link of the EGFR signals system is interfered with or damaged, the proliferation, growth, and differentiation of cells would become uncontrolled. EGFR is overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors, such as non-small-cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Results of the study have proved that EGFR overexpression is closely associated with mutations and variants of the EGFR genes, whose mutations and variants are associated with occurrence, metastasis, and prognosis of different types of tumors, including lung cancer. This study is aimed at investigating whether the polymorphisms of CA simple sequence repeat in intron 1 (CA-SSR1), -216G/T, and R497K in the EGFR are able to induce EGFR activation and whether overexpression is associated with pleural metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 432 lung adenocarcinoma patients with pleural metastasis (metastasis group) and 424 patients with lung adenocarcinoma but without pleural metastasis (nonmetastasis group) were enrolled in this study. For all patients, the CA-SSR1 genotypes were determined by capillary electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and direct DNA sequencing, and the R497K and -216G/T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing. EGFR expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in primary tumor tissues with different -216G/T, R497K, and CA-SSR1 genotypes. Our results showed significant differences between pleural metastasis and nonmetastasis groups in the genotype and allele distribution of -216G/T, R497K, and CA-SSR1 polymorphisms of the EGFR gene. The -216T allele, Arg allele, and shorter CA-SSR1 (<17) had significantly increased risks of pleural metastasis compared with the -216G allele, Lys allele, and longer CA-SSR1 (≥17), respectively. The expression of EGFR was higher in patients with genotypes of -216T/T or -216G/T, Arg/Arg or Arg/Lys, and shorter CA-SSR1 (<17) than that in patients with genotypes of -216G/G, Lys/Lys, and longer CA-SSR1 (≥17), respectively. These results indicate that -216G/T, R497K, and CA-SSR1 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of pleural metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma, which may be related to the overexpression of EGFR protein induced by -216G/T, R497K, and CA-SSR1 polymorphisms.
Sperm morphogenesis in wild-type and fertilization-defective mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans

Taking advantage of conditions that allow spermatogenesis in vitro, the timing and sequence of morphological changes leading from the primary spermatocyte to the spermatozoon is described by light and electron microscopy. Together with previous studies, this allows a detailed description of the nuclear, cytoplasmic, and membrane changes occurring during spermatozoan morphogenesis. By comparison with wild type, abnormalities in spermatogenesis leading to aberrant infertile spermatozoa are found in six fertilization-defective (fer) mutants. In fer-1 mutant males, spermatids appear normal, but during spermiogenesis membranous organelles (MO) fail to fuse with the sperm plasma membrane and a short, though motile. pseudopod is formed. In fer-2, fer-3, and fer-4 mutants, spermatids accumulate 48-nm tubules around their nuclei where the centriole and an RNA containing perinuclear halo would normally be. In all three mutants, spermatids still activate to spermatozoa with normal fusion of their MOs, but the pseudopods formed are aberrant in most fer-2 and fer-4 spermatozoa and in some fer-3 spermatozoa. In fer-5 mutant males, spermatozoa do not form. Instead, defective spermatids with crystalline inclusions and abnormal internal laminar membranes accumulate. In fer-6 mutant males, only a few spermatozoa form and these have defective pseudopods. These spermatozoa retain their fibrous bodies, a structure which normally disassembles in the spermatid. The time of appearance of developmental abnormalities in all of these mutants correlates with the temperature-sensitive periods for development of infertility. The observation that each of these mutants has a different and discreet set of morphological defects, a structure which normally disassembles in the spermatid. The time of appearance of developmental abnormalities in all of these mutants correlates with the temperature-sensitive periods for development of infertility. The observation that each of these mutants has a different and discreet set of morphological defects, a structure which normally disassembles in the spermatid. The time of appearance of developmental abnormalities in all of these mutants correlates with the temperature- sensitive periods for development of infertility. The observation that each of these mutants has a different and discreet set of morphological defects shows that the strict sequence of morphogenetic events that occurs during wild-type spermatogenesis cannot arise because each event is dependent on previous events. Instead, spermatozoa, like bacteriophages, must be formed by multiple independent pathways of morphogenesis.
Characterization of Gardnerella vaginalis and G. vaginalis-like organisms from the reproductive tract of the mare

Gardnerella vaginalis has been isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis, from the genital tracts of asymptomatic women, and from several other infected body sites in humans. However, until recently, it has not been isolated from any other animal species. Between June 1988 and October 1989, 31 isolates identified as G. vaginalis and 70 isolates identified as G. vaginalis-like organisms have been recovered from the genital tracts of 93 mares from Michigan and Ohio. Identification was based on biochemical reactions, hemolysis on media containing blood from various animal sources, and susceptibility to select antimicrobial agents. This report details the characterization of G. vaginalis and G. vaginalis-like organism isolates obtained from the reproductive tracts of these mares and compares the equine isolates with human isolates.
Comparison of resistance mutation patterns in historical plasma HIV RNA genotypes with those in current proviral HIV DNA genotypes among extensively treated patients with suppressed replication

Heavily treatment‐experienced patients with good virological control could be at risk of virological failure on switching to a new regimen if pre‐existing drug resistance is not taken into account. We examined whether genotyping based on cellular HIV‐1 DNA during controlled viraemia identifies resistance mutations detected in plasma HIV‐1 RNA during treatment with previous antiretroviral regimens.
Incorporating Vector Space Similarity in Random Walk Inference over Knowledge Bases

Much work in recent years has gone into the construction of large knowledge bases (KBs), such as Freebase, DBPedia, NELL, and YAGO. While these KBs are very large, they are still very incomplete, necessitating the use of inference to fill in gaps. Prior work has shown how to make use of a large text corpus to augment random walk inference over KBs. We present two improvements to the use of such large corpora to augment KB inference. First, we present a new technique for combining KB relations and surface text into a single graph representation that is much more compact than graphs used in prior work. Second, we describe how to incorporate vector space similarity into random walk inference over KBs, reducing the feature sparsity inherent in using surface text. This allows us to combine distributional similarity with symbolic logical inference in novel and effective ways. With experiments on many relations from two separate KBs, we show that our methods significantly outperform prior work on KB inference, both in the size of problem our methods can handle and in the quality of predictions made.
Superdifferential cuts for binary energies

We propose an efficient and general purpose energy optimization method for binary variable energies used in various low-level vision tasks. Our method can be used for broad classes of higher-order and pairwise non-submodular functions. We first revisit a submodular-supermodular procedure (SSP) [19], which is previously studied for higher-order energy optimization. We then present our method as generalization of SSP, which is further shown to generalize several state-of-the-art techniques for higher-order and pairwise non-submodular functions [2, 9, 25]. In the experiments, we apply our method to image segmentation, deconvolution, and binarization, and show improvements over state-of-the-art methods.
Critical Success Factors for SMEs: An Empirical Study in the UK Chemical Distribution Industry

The UK chemical distribution industry, which is a well-established, fragmented, subject to strong consolidation, significant part of the chemical industry and a major contributor to the UK economy and employment, remains largely unexplored, with no research in the factors contributing to SMEs success. This is the first study to identify the factors critical to small business success and provide an integrative perspective in the specific industry. The research is based on the opinions of owners and very senior managers (Managing Directors, Directors, CEOs and CFOs), an approach extensively used by other researchers. A total of 180 SMEs fulfilling the criteria of this study are identified with 118 owners/managers participating, generating a very satisfactory response rate of 65.5%. Regulatory Compliance, Entrepreneurial Orientation, Customer Relations Management, Market and Product development, Prior Work Experience and Management Skills, Human Capital, Economic Environment and Strategic Planning are established as critical success factors (CSFs). Findings suggest that success is a multidimensional phenomenon where both firm-internal and firm-external factors need to be optimal simultaneously; satisfying one or two factors does not necessarily guarantee success. Strong interrelationships are also revealed amongst the critical and non-critical success factors. The paper contributes towards the integration of SMEs success factors theories and provides guidelines to various stakeholders and policy-makers to improve strategy formulation and decision-making process in supporting chemical distribution SMEs.
Opposing Effects of α2- and β-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation on Quiescent Neural Precursor Cell Activity and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Norepinephrine regulates latent neural stem cell activity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and has an important role in modulating hippocampal functions such as learning, memory and mood. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is a multi-stage process, spanning from the activation and proliferation of hippocampal stem cells, to their differentiation into neurons. However, the stage-specific effects of noradrenergic receptors in regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we used transgenic Nestin-GFP mice and neurosphere assays to show that modulation of α2- and β-adrenergic receptor activity directly affects Nestin-GFP/GFAP-positive precursor cell population albeit in an opposing fashion. While selective stimulation of α2-adrenergic receptors decreases precursor cell activation, proliferation and immature neuron number, stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors activates the quiescent precursor pool and enhances their proliferation in the adult hippocampus. Furthermore, our data indicate no major role for α1-adrenergic receptors, as we did not observe any change in either the activation and proliferation of hippocampal precursors following selective stimulation or blockade of α1-adrenergic receptors. Taken together, our data suggest that under physiological as well as under conditions that lead to enhanced norepinephrine release, the balance between α2- and β-adrenergic receptor activity regulates precursor cell activity and hippocampal neurogenesis.
JEEA‐FBBVA LECTURE 2013: THE NEW EMPIRICAL ECONOMICS OF MANAGEMENT

Over the last decade the World Management Survey (WMS) has collected firm-level management practices data across multiple sectors and countries. We developed the survey to try to explain the largeandpersistenttotalfactorproductivity(TFP)differencesacrossfirmsandcountries.Thisreview paper discusses what has been learned empirically and theoretically from the WMS and other recent work on management practices. Our preliminary results suggest that about a quarter of cross-country and within-country TFP gaps can be accounted for by management practices. Management seems to matter both qualitatively and quantitatively for performance at the level of the firm and the nation. Competition, governance, human capital, and informational frictions help account for the variation in management. We make some suggestions for both policy and future research. (JEL: L2, M2, O14, O32, O33)
Enterocyte proliferation and intracellular bacteria in animals.

Considerable proliferation of enterocytes, forming adenomatous growths within the intestinal mucosa, is a consistent feature of a number of enteric conditions in animals, now referred to under the general heading of proliferative enteropathy. These were originally described in pigs as adenomas of the ileum and colon1 and this condition was found to have a worldwide occurrence.2 Similar conditions were subsequently described in a number of other animal species, again under the general heading of proliferative enteropathy or enteritis. The degree, however, of mucosal proliferation, corresponding to a description of hyperplasia, through adenoma to a more carcinomatous form, varies between species. Occasional reports of the condition in the fox,3 horse,4 and guinea pig5 describe a hyperplastic condition of the mucosa whereas hamsters6 7 develop adenomatous lesions similar to the pig, and the rat8 and ferret9 can develop an apparently carcinomatous condition with true metastases to local lymph nodes. Study of the disease was revolutionised in 1974 by the discovery that these lesions in pigs had the consistent presence of intracellular bacteria lying free in the cytoplasm of proliferating enterocytes. '0 These bacteria were not detected in normal animals or in unaffected portions of the intestine. The disease is infectious and is transmitted by oral exposure of animals to diseased mucosa. The wide variety and occurrence of these lesions in animals prompted comparisons with some ileocolic conditions in humans, such as Crohn's disease. Comparative studies of the lesions, however, and serological testing,'1 12 including a study by Crohn himself,'3 showed that proliferative enteropathy in animals had no clear counterpart in humans. There may be some mechanistic comparisons with the food sensitive enteropathies, including coeliac disease, in which primary crypt cell hyperplasia is thought to play a part in pathogenesis. "l This still leaves open the question ofhow an enteric bacterium, albeit one living inside enterocytes, can change host cell metabolism to induce a hyperplastic or even carcinomatous state. Previous exploration of this phenomenon was hampered by a lack of knowledge of the bacterium involved. Many early studies considered the bacteria morphologically similar to vibrio or campylobacters and several campylobacter species were proposed as candidates for the bacteria involved.2 Recent work shows that the intracellular bacteria are a new genus of obligate intracellular bacteria, living within enterocytes. This report describes recent advances in the taxonomic status of the bacteria and its association with disease pathogenesis in animals, focusing on how this can aid an understanding of enterocyte proliferation.
Probing the heterologous metabolism supporting 6‐deoxyerythronolide B biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

Heterologous biosynthesis offers a new way to capture the medicinal properties presented by complex natural products. In this study, production of 6‐deoxyerythronolide B (6dEB), the polyketide precursor to the antibiotic erythromycin, was used to probe the heterologous pathways needed for Escherichia coli‐derived biosynthesis. More specifically, the heterologous proteins responsible for 6dEB production were varied by adjusting their respective gene dosage levels. In this way, heterologous components required for posttranslational modification, 6dEB biosynthesis, and substrate provision were adjusted in expression levels to observe the relative effect each has on final heterologous biosynthesis. The results indicate that both the biosynthetic and substrate provision heterologous proteins impact 6dEB formation to a greater extent when compared with posttranslational modification and suggest these components for future protein and metabolic engineering.