Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for New Endothelial Cell Binding Sites on Fibrinogen

Summary In vitro assays were used to characterize adhesion of human aortic, microvascular and umbilical vein endothelial cells to various forms of immobilized fibrinogen. All three types of endothelial cells adhered to fibrinogen in a manner that was independent of the Aα-chain 572-574 RGD cell binding site. In fact, all three adhered to a fragment of the molecule which is composed of only one D domain (D1) of fibrinogen. A time course study revealed that extensive adhesion of endothelial cells on the ligand coated surface occurred between one and two hours incubation. The anti-fibrinogen γA-chain monoclonal antibody 4A5 as well as 4A5 Fabs, blocked adhesion of endothelial cells to fibrinogen, not vitronectin. The inhibitory effects of 4A5 seemed to be indirect because the endothelial cells adhered to the recombinant fibrinogen γ407 (which lacks the γ-chain AGDV sequence of the carboxyl terminal 4A5 binding site) as well as they did to normal recombinant fibrinogen. A recombinant fibrinogen lacking the γ-chain AGDV sequence, containing RGE in place of RGD at the γ-chain 572-574 and 95-97 positions, also supported endothelial cell adhesion. The anti-αvβ3 antibody, LM609, blocked adhesion of endothelial cells to fibrinogen. The peptide GRGDSP inhibited endothelial cell adhesion on fibrinogen and vitronectin. These results demonstrate that αvβ3 mediated adhesion (attachment and spreading) of HUVECs to fibrinogen may use a site in the D domain of fibrinogen and is not dependent on the Aα-chain RGD (95-97 and 572-574) sequences, as has been shown in shorter term (where cells were rounded) experiments, or the γA-chain 408-411 cell binding sites. Thus, the data reveal the existence of another unidentified site(s) on fibrinogen which can support the irreversible adhesion (attachment and spreading) of endothelial cells.
Application of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to detect genotoxic effect of trifluralin on maize (Zea mays)

Trifluralin is a widely used dinitroaniline herbicide throughout the world. However, limited efforts have been made to study its genotoxic effects on different plants. The present study aimed to evaluate the herbicide’s genotoxic potential on maize (Zea mays) by using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. For this purpose, maize seedlings were treated with aqueous solutions of trifluralin at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3 ppm for 7 days. In the RAPD analyses, 15 primers were used and 91 bands were obtained, with an average of 6.06 bands per primer in the control seedlings. After trifluralin treatment, significant changes were observed in RAPD profiles. These changes included loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands, in comparison to the control group, and they were dose dependent. In addition, root growth and total soluble protein level in trifluralin-treated seedlings were analyzed and compared for genomic template stability (GTS), which was performed for the qualitative measurement of changes in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. The results showed that GTS, root growth, and total soluble protein content of the seedlings gradually decreased with an increase in trifluralin concentration. These findings suggest that the RAPD technique is a useful biomarker assay to evaluate the genotoxic effects of herbicides on plants.
Dihydrouracil dehydrogenase activity in normal, differentiating and regnerating liver and in hepatomas.

Summary The behavior of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase activity (4,5-dihydrouracil:NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.1.2) was compared in proliferating normal liver (from developing rats and from partially hepatectomized rats) and in neoplastic liver (spectrum of hepatomas of different growth rates). The enzyme activity was determined in the 100,000 × g supernatant fluid. The affinity of the enzyme to the substrate, uracil, was similar in the hepatomas to that in the liver of control normal rats of the same strain. The pH optimum of the control and neoplastic livers was at 7.2. The activities of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase in rat liver, thymus, intestinal mucosa, spleen, kidney, brain, skeletal muscle, and heart were 2.0, 1.1, 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, and 0.1 µmoles/hr/g, wet weight, of tissue at 37°, respectively. In the differentiating liver, the enzyme activity of the average cell increased 2.7-fold from the level observed in the newborn to reach the activity of the liver of adult rat. In the regenerating liver at 24 hr after partial hepatectomy, the enzyme activity decreased to 74% of that of the sham-operated controls. In the spectrum of hepatomas, dihydrouracil dehydrogenase activity decreased in parallel with the increase in hepatoma growth rate. In the most rapidly growing tumors (9618A2, 3683F), the activities were about 15% or less of those in liver of control rats of the same strain, sex, age, and weight. Since the regenerating liver proliferates at a rate comparable to that of the rapidly growing hepatoma, the marked decrease observed in the tumor appears to be specific to neoplastic cell growth. Dihydrouracil dehydrogenase is considered the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolic pathway of uracil; therefore, the close linking of the decrease in the activity of this enzyme with the increase in hepatoma growth rate provides further evidence in support of the Molecular Correlation Concept.
The Robustness and Pervasiveness of Sub-Additivity in Intertemporal Choice

A large literature has used choice experiments involving time-dated monetary rewards, to test whether time discounting is exponential or hyperbolic, with mixed results. One explanation, proposed by the psychologist Daniel Read (2001), is that the observed choice patterns reflect a type of framing effect, known as sub-additivity, rather than hyperbolic or exponential discounting. An alternative explanation, however, has emerged from a recent literature in economics, which points out various confounds that might affect the traditional intertemporal choice experiment, as well as challenges of inference from typically small or idiosyncratic samples. This paper makes two main contributions: (1) It re-visits the sub-additivity hypothesis, but using a design that addresses the key methodological confounds; (2) it uses large representative samples, to assess the pervasiveness and importance of anomalous choice patterns like sub-additivity. The analysis finds intertemporal choices that are consistent with sub-additivity, and rules out explanations based on confounds. Furthermore, subadditivity is pervasive, being observed across all sub-populations studied in the analysis, and constituting the majority choice pattern at the individual level. The results underline that sub-additivity is an important feature of intertemporal choice, they raise caveats about how intertemporal choice experimens have often been interpreted, and they suggest some directions for methodological improvements.
The relationship between blood flow impairment and oxygen depletion in acute ischemic stroke imaged with magnetic resonance imaging

Oxygenation-sensitive spin relaxation time T2′ and relaxation rate R2′ (1/T2′) are presumed to be markers of the cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in acute ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigate the relationship of T2′/R2′ with dynamic susceptibility contrast-based relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in acute ischemic stroke to assess their plausibility as surrogate markers of the ischemic penumbra. Twenty-one consecutive patients with internal carotid artery and/or middle cerebral artery occlusion were studied at 3.0 T. A physiological model of the cerebral vasculature (VM) was used to process PWI raw data in addition to a conventional deconvolution technique. T2′, R2′, and rCBF values were extracted from the ischemic core and hypoperfused areas. Within hypoperfused tissue, no correlation was found between deconvolved rCBF and T2′ (r = −0.05, p = 0.788), or R2′ (r = 0.039, p = 0.836). In contrast, we found a strong positive correlation with T2′ (r = 0.444, p = 0.006) and negative correlation with R2′ (r = −0.494, p = 0.0025) for rCBFVM, indicating increasing OEF with decreasing CBF and that rCBF based on the vascular model may be more closely related to metabolic disturbances. Further research to refine and validate these techniques may enable their use as MRI-based surrogate markers of the ischemic penumbra for selecting stroke patients for interventional treatment strategies.
The effects of open innovation activity on performance of SMEs: the case of Korea

Most previous successful open innovation cases originated from large enterprises that have the ability to invest heavily in research and development (R&D) and to generate many new ventures. Conversely, we find only very few successful case studies of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The difference in the number of cases makes us doubt the appropriateness of open innovation strategy for SMEs. In order to show the relevance of open innovation for SMEs, the current study analyses the impact of external activities related to open innovation on innovation output by means of a logistic regression and compares the results with those of large enterprises. Further investigation was done to assess the relative impact of the external activities by means of a Bayesian network method. In conclusion, the empirical analysis shows that not all open innovation activities of SMEs have a positive effect on their innovation output.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors Limiting Efficacy of Bt Corn in Indirectly Reducing Mycotoxin Levels in Commercial Fields

Abstract Incidence of insect damage, and association of insect damage with mycotoxigenic corn ear molds and mycotoxins was examined in commercial fields of Bt and non-Bt hybrids of different backgrounds in Illinois in 1998 and 1999. Nearly 50% Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) infestation sometimes occurred in Bt hybrids that express high levels of the protein in silks and kernels. Damage by European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, was uncommon, even in non-Bt ears. Levels of total fumonisins were generally less (15- to 1.8-fold) in Bt versus non-Bt hybrids at the same site, with some significant differences. There were several instances where there were no significant differences in fumonisin levels between low/no Bt kernel hybrids and Bt hybrids that produced high levels of the protein in the kernel and silk tissue. However, significant correlations were often noted between numbers of insect-damaged kernels and total fumonisin levels, especially in 1998, suggesting in these cases that reducing insect damage was still reducing fumonisin levels. There was variability between the correlation coefficient for numbers of insect damaged kernels and fumonisin levels at different sites for the same year, different hybrids at the same site, and the same hybrid for different years. Although reductions in fumonisins in Bt hybrids were more limited than reported in the past, planting the Bt hybrids still appears to be a useful method for indirectly reducing mycotoxins in corn ears.
The Influence of Intense Combined Training on Upper Extremity Function in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: Does Initial Ability Matter?

ABSTRACT Aim: To examine whether level of manual ability modifies the response to an intensive program combining modified constraint and bimanual training on arm functioning children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Methods: Thirty-four children aged 6–11 years, with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels I–III (I:8, II:15, III:11), participated in a 2-week program, combining an hour of modified constraint with 5 hr of bimanual practice daily. The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and the Jebsen–Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) were done pre-, post-, and 3-months post-intervention. Results: Mean AHA logits unit scores increased overtime (F2;50 = 5, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in AHA logits units change score between MACS levels (F4;56 = 1.4, p = 0.22). JTTHF scores did not change for either the affected or less-affected hand, although a significant interaction of time and MACS level was found in the less-affected side (F4;58 = 6.5, p < 0.01). Children in MACS levels I and II improved by similar degrees, in comparison to children at MACS level III who demonstrated significantly greater change over time. Conclusion: While a similar trend of improvement was found in the bimanual abilities of children at all MACS levels, only children at MACS level III had improved performance in unilateral abilities in the less-affected side following intervention.
A comparative study of hypertonic saline, daily and alternate-day rhDNase in children with cystic fibrosis.

1 Respiratory Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK 2 Department of Respiratory Paediatrics, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK 3 Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK 4 Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK 5 Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK 6 Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Hydroxyurea interferes with antigen‐dependent T‐cell activation in vitro

Hydroxyurea is believed to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) in HIV disease by decreasing the amount of intracellular deoxynucleotides needed for viral replication. A plasma concentration of 400 μmol L−1 is tolerated in oncological diseases. The present study focused on the possible interference of hydroxyurea with antigen‐dependent T‐cell activation as an alternative explanation for inhibiting HIV replication in vivo.
All these positive tests to thimerosal

By and large, positive patch tests with thimerosal lack clinical relevance and should cause concern neither to the dermatologist nor to the patient. The substance should be retained in standard test series for scientific purposes, but on clinical grounds its inclusion does not seem to be indicated. Nevertheless, the phenomenon is intriguing in its own right.
Conformational changes in the T cell receptor differentially determine T cell subset development in mice

Recruitment of the adaptor protein Nck to the T cell receptor complex contributes to the specification of T cells in the thymus. Nck and T Cell Fate in the Thymus Signals generated by ligand binding to the T cell receptor (TCR) complex are important for the development of common precursor cells into T cells of the αβ and γδ lineages in the thymus. In response to a ligand-dependent conformational change in the TCR, the complex component CD3ε undergoes a shift that enables the recruitment of the cytosolic adaptor protein Nck. Noting that the C80G mutation in CD3ε blocks transmission of the conformational change and inhibits the activation of T cell lines in vitro, Blanco et al. generated mice expressing the C80G mutant CD3ε. Whereas the development of αβ T cells in these mice was blocked, some subsets of γδ T cells developed normally. Mice expressing a mutant CD3ε protein defective in binding to Nck had a similar phenotype, which suggests that the TCR conformation–dependent recruitment of Nck to the receptor complex may have differential effects on T cell fate. In the thymus, immature T cells differentiate from common precursors to become T cells expressing either the αβ or γδ T cell receptor (TCR) complex. The CD3ε subunit of the TCR complex is thought to transduce ligand-induced conformational changes in the TCR by recruiting the cytosolic adaptor protein Nck. To investigate the role of conformational changes in the TCR in T cell development, we generated mice with a germline mutation (C80G) in the extracellular domain of CD3ε, which prevents the outside-in transmission of conformational changes in the TCR. The development of αβ T cells in the C80G mice was blocked at an early stage that depends on signaling by a precursor form of the TCR. In contrast, the C80G mutation did not impair the development of some subsets of γδ T cells, including Vγ1. 1+ cells; however, development of other γδ T cell subsets was blocked. A similar phenotype was observed in mice with a mutation in the cytoplasmic proline-rich sequence (PRS) of CD3ε, the binding site for Nck. In a genetic complementation test, the PRS CD3ε mutant failed to rescue the wild-type phenotype when expressed in heterozygosity with the C80G mutant. These data suggest that Nck may function as an effector of TCR conformational changes during T cell development. Additional experiments showed differential effects of the C80G mutation on the activation of TCR-dependent signaling pathways, which suggests that there are pathways that are either dependent on or independent of the transmission of conformational change in the receptor.
Analysis of the activity to induce toll-like receptor (TLR)2- and TLR4-mediated stimulation of supragingival plaque.

BACKGROUND The deleterious effects of the accumulation of supragingival plaque are well known, but the role of the proinflammatory property of supragingival plaque in periodontal diseases has not been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2- and TLR4-stimulating activity of supragingival plaque to periodontal parameters. METHODS We isolated 144 supragingival plaque samples and analyzed TLR2- and TLR4-stimulating activity using genetically engineered Chinese hamster ovary reporter cells that express a reporter molecule upon activation of nuclear factor-kappa B through TLR2 or TLR4. The numbers of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), and Streptococcus mutans cells in each plaque sample were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The activity to induce TLR4-mediated stimulation, but not TLR2-mediated stimulation, was positively associated with the plaque score and bleeding on probing score of the teeth from which the plaque samples were taken. The activity to induce TLR2-mediated stimulation, but not TLR4-mediated stimulation, was negatively associated with probing depth and clinical attachment level. The ratio of TLR4-/TLR2-mediated stimulation was positively associated with all of those parameters. The number of P. gingivalis cells in each plaque sample was associated with the plaque score and clinical attachment level, but no strong association was observed between the ratio of examined bacteria in each plaque sample and the activity to induce TLR2- or TLR4-mediated stimulation, except for a weak correlation between the ratio of A. actinomycetemcomitans cells and the activity to induce TLR4-mediated stimulation. CONCLUSION The TLR2- and TLR4-stimulating activity of supragingival plaque is associated with clinical parameters for gingivitis and periodontitis.
Descriptive Data Mining on Fraudulent Online Dating Profiles

The increasing ease of access to the World Wide Web and email harvesting tools has enabled spammers to target a wider audience. The problem is where scams are widely encountered in day to day environment to individuals from all walks of life and result in millions of dollars in financial loss as well as emotional trauma (Newman 2005). This paper aims to analyse and examine the structure of Romance Fraud, in a bid to understand and detect Romance Fraud profiles. We focus on scams that utilise the medium of dating websites. The primary indicators of Romance Fraud identified in the literature include social factors, scam characteristics and content. The approach followed is informed by interpretivist and quantitative research perspectives. From this understanding, Romance Fraud can be viewed as a methodical attempt by scammers to penetrate their victims’ defences by impersonating someone else or creating an avatar (fictitious identity). A quantitative approach was undertaken in order to extract reflective, informative and rich data (Neuman 2003). The research methodology incorporating Knowledge Discovery from an existing proprietary online dating database was adopted to provide the foundation for this research (PiatetskyShapiro 1996).
Hydrothermal scheduling in Norway using stochastic dual dynamic programming; a large-scale case study

We test the stochastic dual dynamic programming (SDDP) approach on a system an order of magnitude larger than previously published studies. The analysis shows that the SDDP-approach can be applied to very large system sizes to solve the hydropower scheduling problem through formal optimisation and obtain individual decision variables for every reservoir. However, this can be very time-consuming compared to other existing models based on other principles. The results from our SDDP-based model compare favorably to an aggregation-disaggregation model which is in operational use in the power market when using statistical inflow series as input to the models.
Management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

It is just 100 years since Marchand [1] identified choriocarcinoma as a tumour arising from placental villous trophoblast. Earlier description of similar tumours failed to identify their tissue of origin. Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) is the terminological umbrella now used to span the spectrum of cellular proliferations ranging from villous forms of hydatiform mole through invasive mole and choriocarcinoma to placental site tumours [2]. Each form of GTD presents its own particular set of problems ranging from social to therapeutic. These proliferations are unique in several aspects. In the first place there is no known homolog of hydatiform mole in any other species. The rare identification of choriocarcinoma like tumours remains restricted to a rhesus monkey [3] and an armadillo [4]. In the human, histologically characterized choriocarcinoma behaves in a broadly similar manner whether it is genetically identical with the host as in germ cell origin, or whether it arises from a normal conception or an androgenetic hydatiform mole.
Detection of low-concentration superparamagnetic nanoparticles using an integrated radio frequency magnetic biosensor

Improving the sensitivity of existing biosensors for highly sensitive detection of magnetic nanoparticles as biomarkers in biological systems is an important and challenging task. Here, we propose a method of combining the magneto-resistance (MR), magneto-reactance (MX), and magneto-impedance (MI) effects to develop an integrated magnetic biosensor with tunable and enhanced sensitivity. A systematic study of the 7 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticle concentration dependence of MR, MX, and MI ratios of a soft ferromagnetic amorphous ribbon shows that these ratios first increase sharply with increase in particle concentration (0–124 nM) and then remain almost unchanged for higher concentrations (124 nM–1240 nM). The MX-based biosensor shows the highest sensitivity. With this biosensor, ∼2.1 × 1011 7 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be detected over a detection area of 2.0 × 105 μm2, which is comparable to a superconducting quantum interference device biosensor that detects the presence of ∼1 × 108 11 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles ove.