Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human proteome enhancement: High‐recovery method and improved two‐dimensional map of colostral fat globule membrane proteins

The human milk fat globule membrane protein composition is still largely unknown, although it counts for 2 – 4% of the total milk protein content and contains several important biologically active components. The aim of this work was to create a two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) map of the human milk fat globule membrane proteins, both integral and membrane‐associated, and to identify and characterize as many protein components as possible. A new protocol for the solubilization and extraction of the human milk fat globule membrane proteins with a double extraction procedure is presented, and the results compared with the extraction methods reported in the literature. The proteins were separated, in the first dimension, by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the pH range 3 – 10 on strips of 13 cm length and, in the second dimension, by Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) on 11.5% T homogeneous gels. A reproducible 2‐DE map of integral and membrane‐associated proteins was obtained and the first 23 spots, representing the major components, were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometric analysis and/or by amino acid sequencing.
Changes in and factors related to loneliness in older men. The Zutphen Elderly Study.

AIM To investigate (i) whether loneliness increases in old age, and if so, whether it relates to ageing itself, to time trends or to cohort effects and (ii) the relationship between changes in institutionalization, partner status and health and loneliness. METHODS 939 men born between 1900 and 1920 completed the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about their partner status, health and institutionalization in 1985, 1990 and 1995. RESULTS For the oldest group (born between 1900 and 1910) loneliness scores increased, but not for the younger groups. The increase in loneliness was attributable to ageing. No birth cohort or time effects were found. Loneliness was related to changes in institutionalization, partner status and subjective health but not to limitations in activities of daily living or cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS the increased loneliness experienced by very old men is influenced by loss of a partner, moving into a care home or not feeling healthy.
Dominant pole placement for multi-loop control systems

This paper proposes a method for multiloop PI controller design which can achieve dominant pole placement for TITO (two input two output) processes. It is an extension of the original dominant pole design for SISO systems. Unlike its SISO counterpart, where the controller parameters can be obtained analytically, the multiloop version amounts to solving some nonlinear equation with complex coefficients, for which closed-form formulae are not possible. This is not surprising as the coupling between loops makes the closed-loop characteristic equation depend on both unknown controllers in a nonlinear way, and hence difficult to solve analytically. A novel approach is developed to solve the equation using a "generalized root locus" method, in which the solution to our pole placement problem is found from a suitable intersection point between the "root locus" and the positive real axis. The design procedure is given and simulation examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method and comparisons are made with the BLT method.
Brain Energy Metabolism During the Process of Dying and After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

In order to study the problem of how fast and to what degree severe hypoxic brain tissue changes are reversed after reoxygenation, we challenged the viability of the brain by exposing experimental animals to anoxia of such a duration that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was just possible. The brain tissue concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and of ATP, ADP, AMP and phosphocreatine were determined. Two series of experiments were carried out. In the first, groups of rats deprived of oxygen for 1, 2, 4 and 6 min were studied in order to show brain tissue changes in the period of impending death as well as the changes coinciding with the onset of clinical death (blood pressure zero). In addition, one group maintained at a rectal temperature of 37 ± 0.5d̀C and ventilated for 60 min with an oxygen free gas mixture was included aimed at representing a state of irreversibility. In the second series, restitution after 6 min of no oxygen supply was studied 10 min, 1/2 h, 1 h, and 2 h after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Attempts were also made to correlate biochemical changes to EEG status and to clinical recovery. The restitution study showed that oxidative phosphorylation of the brain tissue was rapidly resumed with normalization of the adenylate energy charge in all animals in which the pump function of the heart could be restored by our artificial means. However, there was a strikingly poor correlation between recovery of mitochondrial function and restitution of EEG or clinical recovery. Thus, it seems likely that a delayed functional restitution is not due to energy failure but to other biochemical changes or to biophysical alterations not revealed by the present type of study.
The complete mitochondrial genome of an agama, Phrynocephalus putjatia (Reptilia, Squamata, Agamidae)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the toad-headed viviparous lizard, Phrynocephalus putjatia. The mitogenome was 16,283 bp in length; it contained 13 protein coding, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA genes and 2 control regions. The gene order and compositions were identical with all published congeneric mitogenomes for the fragment between 12 s RNA and tRNA-Thr, but with some differences for the remaining sequences including CR, tRNA-Pro and tRNA-Phe. The characteristics of the mitogenome was analyzed and discussed in detail.
Retinoids and spermatogenesis: Lessons from mutant mice lacking the plasma retinol binding protein

Using Rbp4‐null mice as models, we have established for the first time the kinetics of the spermatogenetic alterations during vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Our data demonstrate that the VAD‐induced testicular degeneration arises through the normal maturation of germ cells in a context of spermatogonia differentiation arrest. They indicate that retinoic acid (RA) appears dispensable for the transition of premeiotic to meiotic spermatocytes, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. They confirm that RA plays critical roles in controlling spermatogonia differentiation, spermatid adhesion to Sertoli cells, and spermiation, and suggest that the VAD‐induced arrest of spermatogonia differentiation results from simultaneous blocks in RA‐dependent events mediated by RA receptor γ (RARγ) in spermatogonia and by RARα in Sertoli cells. They also provide evidence that expression of major RA‐metabolizing enzymes is increased in mouse Sertoli cells upon VAD and that vitamin A‐deficient A spermatogonia differ from their RA‐sufficient counterparts by the expression of the Stra8 gene. Developmental Dynamics 235:1608–1622, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Therapeutic administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor accelerates hemopoietic regeneration and enhances survival in a murine model of radiation-induced myelosuppression.

The primary cause of death after radiation exposure is infection resulting from myelosuppression. Because granulocytes play a critical role in host defense against infection and because granulocyte proliferation and differentiation are enhanced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), this agent was evaluated for the ability to accelerate hemopoietic regeneration and to enhance survival in irradiated mice. C3H/HeN mice were irradiated and G-CSF (2.5 micrograms/day, s.c.) or saline was administered on days 3-12, 1-12 or 0-12 post-irradiation. Bone marrow, splenic and peripheral blood cellularity, and bone marrow and splenic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell recoveries were evaluated in mice exposed to 6.5 Gy. Mice exposed to 8 Gy were evaluated for multipotent hemopoietic stem cell recovery (using endogenous spleen colony-forming units) and enhanced survival. Results demonstrated that therapeutic G-CSF 1) accelerates hemopoietic regeneration after radiation-induced myelosuppression, 2) enhances survival after potentially lethal irradiation and 3) is most effective when initiated 1 h following exposure.
Investigating Information Systems with Positivist Case Research

This paper offers a rigorous step-by-step methodology for developing theories and contains specific and detailed guidelines for IS researchers to follow in carrying out positivist case studies. The methodology is largely inspired by the work of Yin [2003], Eisenhardt [1989], Miles and Huberman [1994] and several others who are strong proponents of and have wide experience in this research approach. It also relies on previous key contributions to the positivist case research method in IS [Benbasat et al., 1987; Lee, 1989; Dube and Pare, 2003]. We illustrate how this methodology can be applied in our field to help find new perspectives and empirical insights. In addition, the desired qualities associated with several of the proposed concepts and the techniques and tools included in the methodology are presented. We believe that the two detailed case studies presented in this paper represent highly rigorous, yet different applications of the positivist case research method and, hence, we strongly encourage IS researchers to follow their respective approaches.
Predicting chaotic time series using machine learning techniques

This paper proposes a new form of diagnosis and repair based on reinforcement learning. Self-interested agents learn locally which agents may provide a low quality of service for a task. The correctness of learned assessments of other agents is proved under conditions on exploration versus exploitation of the learned assessments. Compared to collaborative multi-agent diagnosis, the proposed learningbased approach is not very efficient. However, it does not depend on collaboration with other agents. The proposed learning based diagnosis approach may therefore provide an incentive to collaborate in the execution of tasks, and in diagnosis if tasks are executed in a suboptimal way.
Oral administration of cholera toxin-Sendai virus conjugate potentiates gut and respiratory immunity against Sendai virus.

Successful oral immunization to prevent infectious diseases in the gastrointestinal tract as well as distant mucosal tissues may depend on the effectiveness of an Ag to induce gut immune responses. We and others have previously reported that cholera toxin possesses strong adjuvant effects on the gut immune response to co-administered Ag. To explore further adjuvant effects of cholera toxin, the holotoxin or its B subunit was chemically cross-linked to Sendai virus. The resulting conjugates, which were not infectious, were evaluated for their capacity to induce gut immune responses against Sendai virus after oral administration to mice. Conjugating cholera toxin to virus significantly enhanced the adjuvant activity of cholera toxin compared to simple mixing. Cholera toxin B subunit, however, did not show an adjuvant effect either by itself or conjugated with the virus. Oral administration of the Sendai virus-cholera toxin conjugate was also able to prime for protective anti-viral responses in the respiratory tract. Mice that were orally immunized with the conjugate and intra-nasally boosted with inactivated virus alone showed virus-specific IgA titers in nasal secretions that correlated with protection against direct nasal challenge with live Sendai virus. For comparison, s.c. immunization was also studied. Systemic immunization with the virus-cholera toxin conjugate induced virus-specific antibody responses in serum as well as in the respiratory tract but failed to protect the upper respiratory tract against virus challenge. Systemic immunization plus an intra-nasal boost did, however, confer a variable degree of protection to the upper respiratory tract, which correlated primarily with bronchoalveolar lavage (lung) antibody titers.
Natalizumab for the treatment of active Crohn's disease: results of the ENCORE Trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS A randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of natalizumab induction therapy in patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS Patients (N = 509) with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and active inflammation characterized by elevated C-reactive protein concentrations were randomized (1:1) to receive natalizumab 300 mg or placebo intravenously at Weeks 0, 4, and 8. The primary end point was induction of response (> or =70-point decrease from baseline in the Crohn's Disease Activity Index score at Week 8 sustained through Week 12). Additional efficacy end points included the proportion of patients with sustained remission (Crohn's Disease Activity Index score <150 points) and response or remission over time. RESULTS Response at Week 8 sustained through Week 12 occurred in 48% of natalizumab-treated patients and 32% of patients receiving placebo (P < .001). Sustained remission occurred in 26% of natalizumab-treated patients and 16% of patients receiving placebo (P = .002). Week 4 response rates were 51% for natalizumab and 37% for placebo (P = .001). Responses remained significantly higher at subsequent assessments (P < .001) in natalizumab-treated patients. Natalizumab-treated patients also had significantly higher remission rates at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 (P < or = .009). The frequency and types of adverse events were similar between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Natalizumab induced response and remission at Week 8 that was sustained through Week 12. Response and remission rates for natalizumab were superior to those for placebo at Weeks 4, 8, and 12, demonstrating the early and sustained efficacy of natalizumab as induction therapy in patients with elevated C-reactive protein and active Crohn's disease. Natalizumab was well tolerated in this study.
Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder: a clinicopathologic spectrum of a series of 14 cases emphasizing diagnostic dilemmas.

BACKGROUND Paraganglioma (PG) of the urinary bladder is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm, accounting for < 0.1% of all bladder tumours. Distinction from urothelial carcinoma is imperative as management and prognosis vary markedly. In this report, we describe our experience with the histopathology of paragangliomas of the urinary bladder with emphasis on the histologic features that have led to their being misdiagnosed as conventional urothelial cancer and, most importantly, those that will help pathologists recognize this rare tumor of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS All cases of PG of urinary bladder diagnosed at our institute from 2002-2012 were retrieved and diagnosis confirmed in accordance with WHO classification. Clinical and treatment details were obtained from hospital medical records. RESULTS Fourteen cases of PG of urinary bladder including 5 consult cases were analysed. These included 11 transurethral resections ± partial cystectomies, 2 partial cystectomies and 1 radical cystectomy. Two out of the 5 consult cases had been submitted with a diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma and 1 with that of a rhabdomyosarcoma. Age ranged from 15-84 years (median, 43 years) with a male to female ratio of 1:2.5. Presenting symptoms were haematuria, dysuria and flank pain; only 1 case had antecedent hypertension. Histologically, typical 'zellballen' (72%), diffuse (21%) and ribbon-like (7%) growth patterns amidst a richly vascularised stroma were seen. Muscularis propria invasion and necrosis was present in 72% and 21%, respectively. Substantial cautery artifacts led to misdiagnosis in the 3 erroneous cases. Tumour cells were positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin; sustentacular cells were S-100 positive. Follow up was available in 6 patients; median follow-up was 29 months (8-120 months). One patient developed distant metastasis in cervical lymph node 10 years after diagnosis; remaining were alive without evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder is a rare tumor and may be misdiagnosed as urothelial cancer especially on TURBT, but a high index of suspicion, careful search for the characteristic histological features and supportive immunohistochemical studies should lead to a correct diagnosis.
Absorption of Musca domestica Screening Pigment

[Brief letters to the Editor that make specific scientific reference to papers published previously in THE JOtrRNAL OF GENERAL PHWSIOLOOY are invited. Receipt of such letters will be acknowledged, and those containing pertinent scientific comments and scientific criticisms will be published. ] Dear Sir: The recent article entitled "Do Flies Have a Red Receptor? " by Goldsmith (1) answers this question very nicely in the negative. Further support for this conclusion is now available, as described below.
Reverse Genetic Analysis of Ourmiaviruses Reveals the Nucleolar Localization of the Coat Protein in Nicotiana benthamiana and Unusual Requirements for Virion Formation

ABSTRACT Ourmia melon virus (OuMV) is the type member of the genus Ourmiavirus. These viruses have a trisegmented genome, each part of which encodes a single protein. Ourmiaviruses share a distant similarity with other plant viruses only in their movement proteins (MP), whereas their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) shares features only with fungal viruses of the family Narnaviridae. Thus, ourmiaviruses are in a unique phylogenetic position among existing plant viruses. Here, we developed an agroinoculation system to launch infection in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Using different combinations of the three segments, we demonstrated that RNA1 is necessary and sufficient for cis-acting replication in the agroinfiltrated area. RNA2 and RNA3, encoding the putative movement protein and the coat protein (CP), respectively, are both necessary for successful systemic infection of N. benthamiana. The CP is dispensable for long-distance transport of the virus through vascular tissues, but its absence prevents efficient systemic infection at the exit sites. Virion formation occurred only when the CP was translated from replication-derived RNA3. Transient expression of a green fluorescent protein-MP (GFP-MP) fusion via agroinfiltration showed that the MP is present in cytoplasmic connections across plant cell walls; in protoplasts the GFP-MP fusion stimulates the formation of tubular protrusions. Expression through agroinfiltration of a GFP-CP fusion displays most of the fluorescence inside the nucleus and within the nucleolus in particular. Nuclear localization of the CP was also confirmed through Western blot analysis of purified nuclei. The significance of several unusual properties of OuMV for replication, virion assembly, and movement is discussed in relation to other positive-strand RNA viruses.
Sites of origin and developmental dynamics of the neurons in the core and shell regions of torus semicircularis in the chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

To know the embryogenesis of the core and shell regions of the midbrain auditory nucleus, a single dose of [3H]‐thymidine was injected into the turtle embryos at peak stages of neurogenesis in the shell and core of the torus semicircularis. Following sequential survival times, labeled neurons and the dynamics of cell proliferation were examined. The expression of vimentin (VM), reelin, calbindin, parvalbumin, and substance P were also studied. The results showed that: 1) progenitor cells for the core and shell regions were generated in different sites of the ventricular zone; 2) the length of the cell cycle or S‐phase for the shell region were both longer than those for the core region (4.7 and 3.2 hours longer, respectively), suggesting that mitotic activity in the core region is higher than it is in the shell region; 3) the elongated cell bodies of the labeled core and shell cells had close apposition to VM fibers, suggesting that the migration of these cells is guided by VM fibers; 4) the germinal sites of the core and shell constructed by projecting the orientation of radial VM fibers back to the ventricular zone was consistent with those obtained by short and sequential survival [3H]‐thymidine radiography; and 5) the beginning of positive staining for parvalbumin in the core region was interposed between those for calbindin and substance P in the shell regions. This study contributes to the understanding of how auditory nuclei are organized and how their components developed and evolved. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2677–2696, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The E ¤ ect of Foreign Investors on Local Housing Markets : Evidence from the UK y

I use newly-released administrative data on properties owned by overseas companies to study the e¤ect of foreign investment on the housing market in England and Wales. To estimate the causal e¤ect, I construct an instrument for foreign investment based on economic shocks abroad. Foreign investment is found to have a positive e¤ect on house price growth. This e¤ect is present at di¤erent percentiles of the distribution of house prices and is stronger in local authorities where housing supply is less elastic. Foreign investment is also found to reduce the rate of home ownership. There is no evidence of an e¤ect on the housing stock or the share of vacant homes. Key words: foreign investors, house prices JEL Classi cation: R21, F21 Filipa Sá, School of Management & Business, Kings College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK. Email: lipa.sa@kcl.ac. uk. yI would like to thank Beatrice Faleri and Xinyu Li for excellent research assistance. I am very grateful to Philippe Bracke and Alan Manning for their insightful comments and suggestions and to Stuart Gray at the Land Registry for help with the data. I have also received useful comments from seminar participants at the European Meeting of the Urban Economics Association in Copenhagen and the Bank of England.