Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
rapid communication Carbon monoxide provides protection against hyperoxic lung injury

M. K. Choi. Carbon monoxide provides protection against hyperoxic lung injury. Am. J. Physiol. 276 ( Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 20): L688–L694, 1999. —Findings in recent years strongly suggest that the stress-inducible gene heme oxygenase (HO)-1 plays an important role in protection against oxidative stress. Although the mechanism(s) by which this protection occurs is poorly understood, we hypothesized that the gaseous molecule carbon monoxide (CO), a major by-product of heme catalysis by HO-1, may provide protection against oxidative stress. We demonstrate here that animals exposed to a low concentration of CO exhibit a marked tolerance to lethal concentrations of hyperoxia in vivo. This increased survival was associated with highly signiﬁcant attenuation of hyperoxia-induced lung injury as assessed by the volume of pleural effusion, protein accumulation in the airways, and histological analysis. The lungs were completely devoid of lung airway and parenchymal inﬂammation, ﬁbrin deposition, and pulmonary edema in rats exposed to hyperoxia in the presence of a low concentration of CO. Further-more, exogenous CO completely protected against hyperoxia-induced lung injury in rats in which endogenous HO enzyme activity was inhibited with tin protoporphyrin, a selective inhibitor of HO. Rats exposed to CO also exhibited a marked attenuation of hyperoxia-induced neutrophil inﬁltration into the airways and total lung apoptotic index. Taken together, our data demonstrate, for the ﬁrst time, that CO can be therapeutic against oxidative stress such as hyperoxia and highlight possible mechanism(s) by which CO may mediate these protective effects. Signiﬁcant difference was at P , 0.05.
Timing of precipitation in an arid environment: Effects on population performance of a large herbivore

Abstract Climate models predict that shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns are likely to occur across the globe. Changing climate will likely have strong effects on arid environments as a result of increased temperatures, increasing frequency and intensity of droughts, and less consistent pulses of rainfall. Therefore, understanding the link between patterns of precipitation, temperature, and population performance of species occupying these environments will continue to increase in importance as climatic shifts occur within these natural ecosystems. We sought to evaluate how individual, maternal, population, and environmental, particularly temperature and precipitation, level factors influence population performance of a large herbivore in an arid environment. We used mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) as a representative species and quantified juvenile survival to test hypotheses about effects of environmental factors on population performance. Precipitation events occurring in mid‐ to late‐pregnancy (January–April) leading to spring green‐up, as indexed by normalized difference in vegetation index, had the strongest positive effect on juvenile survival and recruitment. In addition, larger neonates had an increased probability of survival. Our findings indicate that timing and amount of precipitation prior to parturition have strong influences on maternal nutritional condition, which was passed on to young. These results have important implications for understanding how animal populations may benefit from timing of precipitation during spring and prior to parturition, especially in arid environments.
Comparative studies on micro heat exchanger optimisation

Although many methods for dealing with multi-objective optimisation (MOO) problems are available as stated in K. Deb (2001) and successful applications have been reported on C.A. Coello et al. (2001), the comparison between MOO methods applied to real-world problem was rarely carried out. This paper reports the comparison between MOO methods applied to a real-world problem, namely, the optimization of a micro heat exchanger (/spl mu/HEX). Two MOO methods, dynamically weighted aggregation (DWA) proposed by Y. Jin et al. (2001) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithms (NSGA-II) proposed by K. Deb et al. (2000) and K. Deb et al. (2002), were used for the study. The commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver CFD-ACE+ is used to evaluate fitness. We introduce how to interface the commercial solver with evolutionary computation (EC) and also report the necessary functionalities of the commercial solver to be used for the optimisation.
Physical characteristics and resistance parameters of typical urban cyclists

ABSTRACT This study investigates the rolling and drag resistance parameters and bicycle and cargo masses of typical urban cyclists. These factors are important for modelling of cyclist speed, power and energy expenditure, with applications including exercise performance, health and safety assessments and transportation network analysis. However, representative values for diverse urban travellers have not been established. Resistance parameters were measured utilizing a field coast-down test for 557 intercepted cyclists in Vancouver, Canada. Masses were also measured, along with other bicycle attributes such as tire pressure and size. The average (standard deviation) of coefficient of rolling resistance, effective frontal area, bicycle plus cargo mass, and bicycle-only mass were 0.0077 (0.0036), 0.559 (0.170) m2, 18.3 (4.1) kg, and 13.7 (3.3) kg, respectively. The range of measured values is wider and higher than suggested in existing literature, which focusses on sport cyclists. Significant correlations are identified between resistance parameters and rider and bicycle attributes, indicating higher resistance parameters for less sport-oriented cyclists. The findings of this study are important for appropriately characterising the full range of urban cyclists, including commuters and casual riders.
Aneurysmal Parent Artery–Specific Inflow Conditions for Complete and Incomplete Circle of Willis Configurations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemodynamics are thought to play a role in intracranial aneurysm growth and rupture. Computational fluid dynamics is frequently performed to assess intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics, using generalized flow waveforms of healthy volunteers as inflow boundary conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in inflow conditions for different aneurysmal parent artery locations and variations of circle of Willis configurations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a series of 96 patients with 103 aneurysms, velocity measurements were acquired using 2D phase-contrast MR imaging perpendicular to the aneurysmal parent arteries in the circle of Willis. Circle of Willis configurations were inspected for variations using multiple overlapping thin-slab-acquisition MRAs. Flow rates, velocity magnitudes, and pulsatility indices were calculated for each parent artery location in subgroups of complete and incomplete circle of Willis configurations. RESULTS: Flow rates, velocity magnitudes, and pulsatility indices were significantly different among aneurysmal parent arteries. Incomplete circle of Willis configurations were observed in 24% of the cases. Significantly lower basilar artery flow rates were observed in configurations with hypoplastic P1 segments. Significantly higher A1 flow rates were observed in configurations with a hypoplastic contralateral A1 segment. CONCLUSIONS: Inflow conditions vary substantially between aneurysmal parent arteries and circle of Willis configurations. We have created a collection of parent artery–specific inflow conditions tailored to the patient-specific circle of Willis configuration that can be used in future computational fluid dynamics studies analyzing intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics.
Low Glycemic Index Prototype Isomaltulose—Update of Clinical Trials

Low glycemic index diets are supposed to achieve a more beneficial effect on blood glucose control in people with diabetes mellitus and may also provide metabolic benefits for the general population. A prototype of a low-glycemic index carbohydrate is the natural occurring disaccharide isomaltulose that can be commercially produced from sucrose (beet sugar) to industrial scale. It is currently used in various food and drink applications as well as special and clinical nutrition feeds and formula diet as a food ingredient and alternative sugar. Here we provide an overview on clinical trials with isomaltulose including an analysis of its effects on glycemia and fat oxidation as compared to high glycemic index sugars and carbohydrates. In addition, we discuss recent reports on beneficial effects in weight-loss maintenance and pregnancy.
Effect of FK506 on ATP-induced intracellular calcium oscillations in cow tracheal epithelium.

To elucidate the effect of FK506 on Ca2+ oscillations in airway epithelium, we investigated cultured cow tracheal epithelial cells with a Ca2+ image-analysis system. ATP (1 μM) induced long-lasting Ca2+ oscillations, having nearly constant peak values (300-400 nM) and intervals (20-40 s) in subconfluent cells but not in confluent cells. These responses were gradually attenuated and abolished by the addition of FK506. Rapamycin, which binds the FK506-binding protein (FKBP), likewise inhibited Ca2+ oscillations, whereas cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, did not. Treatment of cells with FK506 decreased Ca2+ content in thapsigargin-sensitive stores, suggesting that the partial depletion of the stores causes the inhibition of Ca2+ oscillations. Immunocytochemistry revealed the existence of cytoplasmic FKBP-like immunoreactivities. The expression of a 12-kDa FKBP was greater in subconfluent cells than in confluent cells as determined by Western blotting, suggesting that the 12-kDa FKBP may be one of the factors that regulates Ca2+ oscillations. Therefore, FK506 possesses an inhibitory action on the Ca2+ response via intracellular FKBP but not via calcineurin, which may result in modification of airway epithelial functions.
Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 Genotypes to the Risk of Oral Cancer in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/AIM Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a critical role in inflammation and carcinogenesis, and the expression of mRNA MMP7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues was higher than in the oral lichen planus or normal oral mucosa. However, the genotypic role of MMP7 has never been examined in oral cancer. Therefore, in the current study we aimed to examine the contribution of genotypic variants in the promoter region of MMP7 (A-181G and C-153T) to oral cancer risk in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this hospital-based case-control study, 788 patients with oral cancer and 956 gender-and age-matched healthy controls were genotyped for MMP7 A-181G and C-153T via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. RESULTS The distribution pattern of AA, AG and GG for MMP7 promoter A-181G genotype was 88.2, 10.4 and 1.4% in the oral cancer patient group and 89.0, 9.3 and 1.7% in the healthy control group, respectively (p for trend=0.6779), non-significantly differentially distributed between the two groups. There is no polymorphic genotype for MMP7 C-153T among Taiwanese. The comparisons in allelic frequency distribution also support the findings that G allele may not be the risk determinant allele for oral cancer. There is no interaction between the genotypes of MMP7 with age, gender, smoking, alcohol or betel quid consumption on oral cancer risk. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that the MMP7 promoter genotypes only play an indirect role in determining the personal susceptibility to oral cancer in Taiwan.
Nonadditive effects of consumption in an intertidal macroinvertebrate community are independent of food availability but driven by complementarity effects

Abstract Suboptimal environmental conditions are ubiquitous in nature and commonly drive the outcome of biological interactions in community processes. Despite the importance of biological interactions for community processes, knowledge on how species interactions are affected by a limiting resource, for example, low food availability, remains limited. Here, we tested whether variation in food supply causes nonadditive consumption patterns, using the macroinvertebrate community of intertidal sandy beaches as a model system. We quantified isotopically labeled diatom consumption by three macroinvertebrate species (Bathyporeia pilosa, Haustorius arenarius, and Scolelepis squamata) kept in mesocosms in either monoculture or a three‐species community at a range of diatom densities. Our results show that B. pilosa was the most successful competitor in terms of consumption at both high and low diatom density, while H. arenarius and especially S. squamata consumed less in a community than in their respective monocultures. Nonadditive effects on consumption in this macroinvertebrate community were present and larger than mere additive effects, and similar across diatom densities. The underlying species interactions, however, did change with diatom density. Complementarity effects related to niche‐partitioning were the main driver of the net diversity effect on consumption, with a slightly increasing contribution of selection effects related to competition with decreasing diatom density. For the first time, we showed that nonadditive effects of consumption are independent of food availability in a macroinvertebrate community. This suggests that, in communities with functionally different, and thus complementary, species, nonadditive effects can arise even when food availability is low. Hence, at a range of environmental conditions, species interactions hold important potential to alter ecosystem functioning.
Mechanical and hygrothermal behaviour of functionally graded plates using a hyperbolic shear deformation theory

Using the hyperbolic shear deformation plate model and including plate-foundation interaction (Winkler and Pasternak model), an analytical method in order to determine the deflection and stress distributions in simply supported rectangular functionally graded plates (FGP) subjected to a sinusoidal load, a temperature and moisture fields. The present theory exactly satisfies stress boundary conditions on the top and the bottom of the plate. No transversal shear correction factors are needed because a correct representation of the transversal shearing strain is given. Materials properties of the plate (elastic, thermal and moisture expansion coefficients) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Numerical examples are presented and discussed for verifying the accuracy of the present theory in predicting the bending response of FGM plates under sinusoidal load and a temperature field as well as moisture concentration. The effects of material properties, temperature, moisture, plate aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio, ratio of elastic coefficients (ceramic-metal) and three distributions for both temperature and moisture on deflections and stresses are investigated.
Ksp-cadherin gene promoter. I. Characterization and renal epithelial cell-specific activity.

Kidney-specific cadherin (Ksp-cadherin, cadherin 16) is a novel, kidney-specific member of the cadherin superfamily that is expressed exclusively in the basolateral membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells. To characterize the Ksp-cadherin gene promoter, a λ bacteriophage clone containing 3.7 kb of the proximal 5' flanking region of the mouse Ksp-cadherin gene was isolated. The transcription initiation site was mapped by RNase protection assays and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and a 709-bp intron was identified within the 5' untranslated region. The proximal 5' flanking region was "TATA-less" but contained other consensus promoter elements including an initiator (Inr), GC boxes, and a CAAT box. Potential binding sites were identified for transcription factors that are involved in tissue-specific gene expression including activator protein-2 (AP-2), hepatocyte nuclear factor-3 (HNF-3), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP), and GATA factors. Transfection of luciferase reporter plasmids containing 2.6 kb of the 5' flanking region markedly increased luciferase activity in renal epithelial cells (MDCK and mIMCD-3) but not in mesenchymal cells (NIH 3T3 and MMR1). Deletion analysis identified an 82-bp region from -31 to -113 that was essential for promoter activity in transfected renal epithelial cells. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays showed that mIMCD-3 cells contain nuclear proteins that bind to this region of the promoter. Mutational analysis showed that sequences within the HNF-3 consensus site and CAAT box were involved in protein binding and promoter activity. We conclude that the proximal 5' flanking region of the mouse Ksp-cadherin gene contains an orientation-dependent promoter that is kidney epithelial cell specific. The region of the promoter from -113 to -31 is required for transcriptional activity and contains binding sites for nuclear proteins that are specifically expressed in renal epithelial cells.
Gene Expression Profiling of Lymphoblasts from Autistic and Nonaffected Sib Pairs: Altered Pathways in Neuronal Development and Steroid Biosynthesis

Despite the identification of numerous autism susceptibility genes, the pathobiology of autism remains unknown. The present “case-control” study takes a global approach to understanding the molecular basis of autism spectrum disorders based upon large-scale gene expression profiling. DNA microarray analyses were conducted on lymphoblastoid cell lines from over 20 sib pairs in which one sibling had a diagnosis of autism and the other was not affected in order to identify biochemical and signaling pathways which are differentially regulated in cells from autistic and nonautistic siblings. Bioinformatics and gene ontological analyses of the data implicate genes which are involved in nervous system development, inflammation, and cytoskeletal organization, in addition to genes which may be relevant to gastrointestinal or other physiological symptoms often associated with autism. Moreover, the data further suggests that these processes may be modulated by cholesterol/steroid metabolism, especially at the level of androgenic hormones. Elevation of male hormones, in turn, has been suggested as a possible factor influencing susceptibility to autism, which affects ∼4 times as many males as females. Preliminary metabolic profiling of steroid hormones in lymphoblastoid cell lines from several pairs of siblings reveals higher levels of testosterone in the autistic sibling, which is consistent with the increased expression of two genes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway. Global gene expression profiling of cultured cells from ASD probands thus serves as a window to underlying metabolic and signaling deficits that may be relevant to the pathobiology of autism.
Defective function of the cystic fibrosis-causing missense mutation G551D is recovered by genistein.

The patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effects of the isoflavone genistein on disease-causing mutations (G551D and ΔF508) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). In HeLa cells recombinantly expressing the trafficking-competent G551D-CFTR, the forskolin-stimulated Cl currents were small, and average open probability of G551D-CFTR was P o = 0.047 ± 0.019. Addition of genistein activated Cl currents ∼10-fold, and the P o of G551D-CFTR increased to 0.49 ± 0.12, which is a P o similar to wild-type CFTR. In cystic fibrosis (CF) epithelial cells homozygous for the trafficking-impaired ΔF508 mutation, forskolin and genistein activated Cl currents only after 4-phenylbutyrate treatment. These data suggested that genistein activated CFTR mutants that were present in the cell membrane. Therefore, we tested the effects of genistein in CF patients with the G551D mutation in nasal potential difference (PD) measurements in vivo. The perfusion of the nasal mucosa of G551D CF patients with isoproterenol had no effect; however, genistein stimulated Cl-dependent nasal PD by, on average, -2.4 ± 0.6 mV, which corresponds to 16.9% of the responses (to β-adrenergic stimulation) found in healthy subjects.
Lumped constant for deoxyglucose is decreased when myocardial glucose uptake is enhanced.

Quantification of myocardial glucose uptake by positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) requires the "lumped constant" (LC), which corrects the difference of affinity between glucose and FDG to glucose transporters and phosphorylating system. Since LC was introduced, it has been considered to be constant. However, this has recently been questioned. To elucidate the constancy of LC by other than radioisotope techniques, the accumulation rate of sugar phosphates (d[SP]/d t) was measured in isolated, perfused rat hearts by31P NMR spectroscopy with 2-deoxyglucose (DG). We postulate α as the affinity of DG to transporters and the phosphorylating system relative to that of glucose. Theoretically, α is equivalent to LC. We determined α by measuring d[SP]/d t at DG concentration ([DG]) = 10, 7, 5, and 3 mmol/l, keeping the total of glucose concentration ([glucose]) and [DG] to 10 mmol/l. When the glucose uptake was enhanced by insulin (10 mU/ml) or stunning, calculated α was reduced (insulin stimulated, 0.15; stunning, 0.19) compared with the control (0.59). These results indicate that LC can be evaluated by methods without radiolabeled tracers and is smaller when glucose uptake is augmented.
Members of Glycosyl-Hydrolase Family 17 of A. fumigatus Differentially Affect Morphogenesis

Cell wall biosynthesis and remodeling are essential for fungal growth and development. In the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, the β(1,3)glucan is the major cell wall polysaccharide. This polymer is synthesized at the plasma membrane by a transmembrane complex, then released into the parietal space to be remodeled by enzymes, and finally incorporated into the pre-existing cell wall. In the Glycosyl-Hydrolases family 17 (GH17) of A. fumigatus, two β(1,3)glucanosyltransferases, Bgt1p and Bgt2p, have been previously characterized. Disruption of BGT1 and BGT2 did not result in a phenotype, but sequence comparison and hydrophobic cluster analysis showed that three other genes in A. fumigatus belong to the GH17 family, SCW4, SCW11, and BGT3. In constrast to Δbgt1bgt2 mutants, single and multiple deletion of SCW4, SCW11, and BGT3 showed a decrease in conidiation associated with a higher conidial mortality and an abnormal conidial shape. Moreover, mycelium was also affected with a slower growth, stronger sensitivity to cell wall disturbing agents, and altered cell wall composition. Finally, the synthetic interactions between Bgt1p, Bgt2p, and the three other members, which support a functional cooperation in cell-wall assembly, were analyzed. Our data suggest that Scw4p, Scw11p, and Bgt3p are essential for cell wall integrity and might have antagonistic and distinct functions to Bgt1p and Bgt2p.