Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bradykinin Protects Against Oxidative Stress–Induced Endothelial Cell Senescence

Premature aging (senescence) of endothelial cells might play an important role in the development and progression of hypertension and atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that bradykinin, a hormone that mediates vasoprotective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, protects endothelial cells from oxidative stress–induced senescence. Bradykinin treatment (0.001 to 1 nmol/L) dose-dependently decreased senescence induced by 25 &mgr;mol/L of H2O2 in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, as witnessed by a complete inhibition of increased senescent cell numbers and a 34% reduction of the levels of the senescence-associated cell cycle protein p21. Because H2O2 induces senescence through superoxide-induced DNA damage, single-cell DNA damage was measured by comet assay. Bradykinin reduced DNA damage to control levels. The protective effect of bradykinin also resulted in a significant increase in the migration of H2O2-treated bovine aorta endothelial cells in an in vitro endothelial injury model, or “scratch” assay. The protective effect of bradykinin was abolished by the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140 and the NO production inhibitor N&ohgr;-methyl-l-arginine acetate salt. Therefore, we conclude that bradykinin protects endothelial cells from superoxide-induced senescence through bradykinin B2 receptor– and NO-mediated inhibition of DNA damage.
Pictures in Mind: Initial Encoding of Object Properties Varies with the Realism of the Scene Stimulus

A fundamental question in perception is how we visually encode and retain information about a complex scene in order to allow effective operation within it. Interestingly, the stimuli used to investigate scene perception have varied greatly between studies, ranging from line drawings to coloured drawings, computer-generated scenes, photographs, and real scenes. Are findings from these different types of scene stimulus equally ecologically valid? Two experiments are reported that address this issue. In the first we compared photographic and non-photographic scenes and found that observers perform better in questions testing object memory when viewing photographs, suggesting an initial benefit for encoding information from photographs. In the second we found that whether or not non-photographic scenes obeyed realistic scene-organising properties influenced object-memory formation. Effects varied for the different question types, but again were most prominent early in viewing. We conclude that in the search for an understanding of everyday scene perception we must be very careful in our choice of scene stimuli and in our interpretation of findings from the laboratory.
Ectopic Expression of BABY BOOM Triggers a Conversion from Vegetative to Embryonic Growth Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.001941.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of the embryonic pathway in plants are largely unknown. To obtain more insight into these processes, we used subtractive hybridization to identify genes that are upregulated during the in vitro induction of embryo development from immature pollen grains of Brassica napus (microspore embryogenesis). One of the genes identified, BABY BOOM (BBM), shows similarity to the AP2/ERF family of transcription factors and is expressed preferentially in developing embryos and seeds. Ectopic expression of BBM in Arabidopsis and Brassica led to the spontaneous formation of somatic embryos and cotyledon-like structures on seedlings. Ectopic BBM expression induced additional pleiotropic phenotypes, including neoplastic growth, hormone-free regeneration of explants, and alterations in leaf and flower morphology. The expression pattern of BBM in developing seeds combined with the BBM overexpression phenotype suggests a role for this gene in promoting cell proliferation and morphogenesis during embryogenesis.
All sealed endoleaks are not the same: a treatment strategy based on an ex-vivo analysis.

PURPOSE factors contributing to pressure transmission through thrombosed or sealed endoleaks have not been elucidated. The purpose of this investigation was to create an ex-vivo model that mimics patent and sealed endoleaks and that can quantitatively analyse the effects of length, diameter and thrombus on pressure transmission to the interior of the aneurysm sac. METHODS In the ex-vivo model, endoleak channels (ELCs) of various lengths (2 cm, 6 cm, 10 cm) and diameters (0.6 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.4 cm) were constructed using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts and attached to an artificial aneurysm sac. These ELCs were incorporated within a mock circulation made of rubber tubing connected to a pulsatile pump. Peak systolic pressure (PSP) was recorded in the aneurysm sac, distal to each ELC. Subsequently the ELCs were filled with human thrombus, and the pressure measurements repeated (n =5). Data was evaluated by regression analysis. RESULTS Peak systolic pressure in the artificial circulation was maintained at 150 mmHg. In the absence of thrombus pressure did not change across the ELC, regardless of its length or diameter. In the presence of organised thrombus, the pressure curves distal to the ELC were dampened, and the pressure reduction was directly proportional to the length and inversely proportional to the diameter of the ELC. Regression analysis indicated statistical significance. CONCLUSION In the absence of thrombosis, pressure transmitted via an ELC to the aneurysm sac is unchanged regardless of its length or diameter. All sealed endoleaks also transmit pressure. However, when an endoleak has thrombosed, pressure reduction is directly proportional to the length and inversely proportional to the diameter of its channel. This ex-vivo model suggests that Type 2 endoleaks with longer channels and smaller diameters would derive a greater benefit from adjunctive manoeuvres (coil embolisation) that hasten thrombosis. On the other hand, thrombosis of endoleaks with short and wide channels (e.g. Type 1) may not result in substantial pressure reduction within the aneurysm sac and a successful outcome.
A novel ubiquitin‐specific protease is dynamically associated with the PML nuclear domain and binds to a herpesvirus regulatory protein

Herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate‐early protein Vmw110 is a non‐specific activator of gene expression and is required for efficient initiation of the viral lytic cycle. Since Vmw110‐deficient viruses reactivate inefficiently in mouse latency models it has been suggested that Vmw110 plays a role in the balance between the latent and lytic states of the virus. The mechanisms by which Vmw110 achieves these functions are poorly understood. Vmw110 migrates to discrete nuclear structures (ND10) which contain the cellular PML protein, and in consequence PML and other constituent proteins are dispersed. In addition, Vmw110 binds to a cellular protein of ∼135 kDa, and its interactions with the 135 kDa protein and ND10 contribute to its ability to stimulate gene expression and viral lytic growth. In this report we identify the 135 kDa protein as a novel member of the ubiquitin‐specific protease family. The protease is distributed in the nucleus in a micropunctate pattern with a limited number of larger discrete foci, some of which co‐localize with PML in ND10. At early times of virus infection, the presence of Vmw110 increases the proportion of ND10 which contain the ubiquitin‐specific protease. These results identify a novel, transitory component of ND10 and implicate a previously uncharacterized ubiquitin‐dependent pathway in the control of viral gene expression.
Do Termites Avoid Carcasses? Behavioral Responses Depend on the Nature of the Carcasses

Background Undertaking behavior is a significant adaptation to social life in enclosed nests. Workers are known to remove dead colony members from the nest. Such behavior prevents the spread of pathogens that may be detrimental to a colony. To date, little is known about the ethological aspects of how termites deal with carcasses. Methodology and Principal Findings In this study, we tested the responses to carcasses of four species from different subterranean termite taxa: Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) (lower termites) and Microcerotermes crassus Snyder and Globitermes sulphureus Haviland (higher termites). We also used different types of carcasses (freshly killed, 1-, 3-, and 7-day-old, and oven-killed carcasses) and mutilated nestmates to investigate whether the termites exhibited any behavioral responses that were specific to carcasses in certain conditions. Some behavioral responses were performed specifically on certain types of carcasses or mutilated termites. C. formosanus and R. speratus exhibited the following behaviors: (1) the frequency and time spent in antennating, grooming, and carcass removal of freshly killed, 1-day-old, and oven-killed carcasses were high, but these behaviors decreased as the carcasses aged; (2) the termites repeatedly crawled under the aging carcass piles; and (3) only newly dead termites were consumed as a food source. In contrast, M. crassus and G. sulphureus workers performed relatively few behavioral acts. Our results cast a new light on the previous notion that termites are necrophobic in nature. Conclusion We conclude that the behavioral response towards carcasses depends largely on the nature of the carcasses and termite species, and the response is more complex than was previously thought. Such behavioral responses likely are associated with the threat posed to the colony by the carcasses and the feeding habits and nesting ecology of a given species.
How Task Goals Mediate the Interplay between Perception and Action

Theories of embodied cognition suppose that perception, action, and cognition are tightly intertwined and share common representations and processes. Indeed, numerous empirical studies demonstrate interaction between stimulus perception, response planning, and response execution. In this paper, we present an experiment and a connectionist model that show how the Simon effect, a canonical example of perception–action congruency, can be moderated by the (cognitive representation of the) task instruction. To date, no representational account of this influence exists. In the experiment, a two-dimensional Simon task was used, with critical stimuli being colored arrows pointing in one of four directions (backward, forward, left, or right). Participants stood on a Wii balance board, oriented diagonally toward the screen displaying the stimuli. They were either instructed to imagine standing on a snowboard or on a pair of skis and to respond to the stimulus color by leaning toward either the left or right foot. We expected that participants in the snowboard condition would encode these movements as forward or backward, resulting in a Simon effect on this dimension. This was confirmed by the results. The left–right congruency effect was larger in the ski condition, whereas the forward–backward congruency effect appeared only in the snowboard condition. The results can be readily accounted for by HiTEC, a connectionist model that aims at capturing the interaction between perception and action at the level of representations, and the way this interaction is mediated by cognitive control. Together, the empirical work and the connectionist model contribute to a better understanding of the complex interaction between perception, cognition, and action.
Revisiting visual interface programming: creating GUI tools for designers and programmers

Involving graphic designers in the large-scale development of user interfaces requires tools that provide more graphical flexibility and support efficient software processes. These requirements were analysed and used in the design of the TkZ-inc graphical library and the IntuiKit interface design environment. More flexibility is obtained through a wider palette of visual techniques and support for iterative construction of images, composition and parametric displays. More efficient processes are obtained with the use of the SVG standard to import graphics, support for linking graphics and behaviour, and a unifying model-driven architecture. We describe the corresponding features of our tools, and show their use in the development of an application for airports. Benefits include a wider access to high quality visual interfaces for specialised applications, and shorter prototyping and development cycles for multidisciplinary teams.
A simple Method to Predict River Flows in the Agricultural Migina Catchment in Rwanda

Valid criticisms have been raised about the adequacy of the rational method. However, it continues to be used for storm water drains because of its simplicity. The main aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of water resources availability in the catchment through the development of a simple method to assess the maximum peak flow discharge of the Migina River (ca. 260 km 2 ) in Southern Rwanda. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with resolution of 90m was used to delineate the catchments. A digitized land use map and hydrological soil group classification of the catchment were used to estimate the runoff coefficient of the sub-catchments to calculate a weighted runoff coefficient. The rainfall intensity was determined using the records obtained from 13 rain gauges installed in the catchment from June 2009 to May 2011 and considering the time of concentration. The catchment profile and empirical formula were used to compute the time of concentration. A simple rational formula method with area correction was used to estimate the total discharge from the catchment. The results show that agricultural land use dominates in the catchment with about 92.5%. The weighted runoff coefficient was found to be 0.25, the time of concentration was determined to be 3 hours and 26 minutes for the whole catchment and the maximum peak flow was estimated to be 16.12 m 3 /s. Because of non-linear processes and many changes including the fast development of urban areas and possible climate change, which have significant impact on hydrological processes especially on generation of surface runoff, it is recommended to develop river discharge models using advanced methods such as distributed hydrological modelling.
A local adaptive density-based algorithm for clustering polygonal buildings in urban block polygons

Abstract Building clustering is an important task that should be performed prior to building generalization operations. One of the most common approaches for building clustering is the use of density-based algorithms. Current density-based algorithms encounter problems in detecting accurate clusters in a region with varying density. To overcome this problem, a new density-based spatial clustering algorithm, local-adaptive DBSCAN (LA-DBSCAN), which can cluster polygonal buildings in urban blocks with noise and non-uniform density, is developed. The advantage of LA-DBSCAN is that it can select parameters that are adaptive to different local situations. To evaluate the performance of the proposed model, the complete building generalization process is implemented using four datasets at 1:25k scale. An evaluation of the results allowed us to conclude that the LA-DBSCAN algorithm yields more homogeneous and accurate results than the DBSCAN algorithm. Thus, the presented approach is beneficial for the detection of building patterns and the generalization.
Differential equation approximations for Markov chains

We formulate some simple conditions under which a Markov chain may be approximated by the solution to a differential equation, with quantifiable error probabilities. The role of a choice of coordinate functions for the Markov chain is emphasised. The general theory is illustrated in three examples: the classical stochastic epidemic, a population process model with fast and slow variables, and core-finding algorithms for large random hypergraphs.
CD69 Association with Jak3/Stat5 Proteins Regulates Th17 Cell Differentiation

ABSTRACT T-cell differentiation involves the early decision to commit to a particular pattern of response to an antigen. Here, we show that the leukocyte activation antigen CD69 limits differentiation into proinflammatory helper T cells (Th17 cells). Upon antigen stimulation in vitro, CD4+ T cells from CD69-deficient mice generate an expansion of Th17 cells and the induction of greater mRNA expression of interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL 23 receptor (IL-23R), and the nuclear receptor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt). In vivo studies with CD69-deficient mice bearing OTII T-cell receptors (TCRs) specific for OVA peptide showed a high proportion of antigen-specific Th17 subpopulation in the draining lymph nodes, as well as in CD69-deficient mice immunized with type II collagen. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the CD69 cytoplasmic tail associates with the Jak3/Stat5 signaling pathway, which regulates the transcription of RORγt and, consequently, differentiation toward the Th17 lineage. Functional experiments in Th17 cultures demonstrated that the selective inhibition of Jak3 activation enhanced the transcription of RORγt. Moreover, the addition of exogenous IL-2 restored Stat5 phosphorylation and inhibited the enhanced Th17 differentiation in CD69-deficient cells. These results support the early activation receptor CD69 as an intrinsic modulator of the T-cell differentiation program that conditions immune inflammatory processes.
Safety of sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea, characterised by repetitive occlusion of the upper airway during sleep, is recognised as a risk or even an aetiological factor for erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, sleep-disordered breathing has been reported by many patients with erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil, a very commonly used erectile dysfunction treatment, could, at least theoretically, exacerbate sleep apnoea by interfering with pharyngeal muscle tone, nasal patency and gas exchange in the lung. A recent safety study suggested a detrimental effect of oral sildenafil on respiratory events in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Given the inconclusiveness of evidence on pathophysiological mechanisms and the paucity of relevant clinical data the safety risk of sildenafil administration in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea should be questioned. More clinical trials are needed to clarify this issue.
Morphometry of spine‐free nonpyramidal neurons in rabbit auditory cortex

A study of the morphometry and laminar distribution of spine‐free nonpyramidal neurons in electrophysiologically verified primary auditory cortex was carried out in adult rabbits. By using image‐combining computer microscopy, the locations of all impregnated neurons in 300‐μm Golgi‐Cox Nissl sections through the auditory cortex were determined. Spine‐free non‐pyramidal neurons constitute nearly 72% of the nonpyramidal neurons present. They are distributed in a band extending from 450 to 750 μm beneath the pial surface corresponding to laminae III and IV. A combination of dendritic stick, Fourier, and statistical analyses revealed a highly significant spatial orientation of their dendrite systems along a vertical axis parallel to the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons. A significant tangential orientation of dendrites along a dorsal‐ventral axis was also found. A radial analysis of the dendrite systems revealed that the pronounced vertical orientation of spine‐free nonpyramidal neurons is due to (1) directed dendritic growth along the vertical axis, (2) decreased branching and rapid termination of tangentially oriented dendrites, and (3) increased branching of vertically growing dendrites. The radial analysis also revealed that the longest branches are those directed toward the white matter.
Probabilistic noninterference for multi-threaded programs

We present a probability-sensitive confidentiality specification-a form of probabilistic noninterference-for a small multi-threaded programming language with dynamic thread creation. Probabilistic covert channels arise from a scheduler which is probabilistic. Since scheduling policy is typically outside the language specification for multi-threaded languages, we describe how to generalise the security condition in order to define how to generalise the security condition in order to define robust security with respect to a wide class of schedulers, not excluding the possibility of deterministic (e.g., round-robin) schedulers and program-controlled thread priorities. The formulation is based on an adaptation of Larsen and Skou's (1991) notion of probabilistic bisimulation. We show how the security condition satisfies compositionality properties which facilitate straightforward proofs of correctness for, e.g., security type systems. We illustrate this by defining a security type system which improves on previous multi-threaded systems, and by proving it correct with respect to our stronger scheduler-independent security condition.
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology

: Hypertension represents a major worldwide cause of death and disability, and it is becoming increasingly clear that available therapies are not sufficient to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. Various mechanisms contribute to blood pressure increase: neurohormonal activation, autonomic nervous system imbalance, and immune activation. Of note, the brain is an important regulator of blood pressure levels; it recognizes the peripheral perturbation and organizes a reflex response by modulating immune system and hormonal release to attempt at restoring the homeostasis. The connection between the brain and peripheral organs is mediated by the autonomic nervous system, which also modulates immune and inflammatory responses. Interestingly, an increased autonomic nervous system activity has been correlated with an altered immune response in cardiovascular diseases. The spleen is the largest immune organ exerting a potent influence on the cardiovascular system during disease and is characterized by a dense noradrenergic innervation. Taken together, these aspects led to hypothesize a key role of neuroimmune mechanisms in the onset and progression of hypertension. This review discusses how the nervous and splenic immune systems interact and how the mechanisms underlying the neuroimmune cross talk influence the disease progression. GRAPHIC ABSTRACT: A graphic abstract is available for this article.