Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mineralization of the vertebral bodies in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) is initiated segmentally in the form of hydroxyapatite crystal accretions in the notochord sheath

We performed a sequential morphological and molecular biological study of the development of the vertebral bodies in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Mineralization starts in separate bony elements which fuse to form complete segmental rings within the notochord sheath. The nucleation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals in both the lamellar type II collagen matrix of the notochord sheath and the lamellar type I collagen matrix derived from the sclerotome, were highly similar. In both matrices the hydroxyapatite crystals nucleate and accrete on the surface of the collagen fibrils rather than inside the fibrils, a process that may be controlled by a template imposed by the collagen fibrils. Apatite crystal growth starts with the formation of small plate‐like structures, about 5 nm thick, that gradually grow and aggregate to form extensive multi‐branched crystal arborizations, resembling dendritic growth. The hydroxyapatite crystals are always oriented parallel to the long axis of the collagen fibrils, and the lamellar collagen matrices provide oriented support for crystal growth. We demonstrate here for the first time by means of synchroton radiation based on X‐ray diffraction that the chordacentra contain hydroxyapatite. We employed quantitative real‐time PCR to study the expression of key signalling molecule transcripts expressed in the cellular core of the notochord. The results indicate that the notochord not only produces and maintains the notochord sheath but also expresses factors known to regulate skeletogenesis: sonic hedgehog (shh), indian hedgehog homolog b (ihhb), parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (pth1r) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (tgfb1). In conclusion, our study provides evidence for the process of vertebral body development in teleost fishes, which is initially orchestrated by the notochord.
Contribution of Organic Material to the Ion Composition of Bone

Studies of bone mineral ranging from cadaveric analysis to the use of high‐resolution ion microprobe with secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) have concluded that bone is rich in sodium and potassium relative to calcium. Exposure of bone to acid conditions either in vitro or in vivo leads to an exchange of hydrogen ions for sodium and potassium buffering the acidity of the medium or blood, respectively. Whether these monovalent ions reside within the mineral or organic phases of bone has never been determined. To determine the contribution of organic material to bone ion composition, we dissected calvariae from 4‐ to 6‐day‐old mice, removed organic material of some with hydrazine (Hydr), and prepared all bones for analysis using a high‐resolution scanning ion microprobe coupled to a secondary ion mass spectrometer. We found that in non‐Hydr‐treated calvariae (Ctl) there was far more surface sodium and potassium than calcium (23Na/40Ca = 15.7 + 1.9, ratio of counts of detected secondary ions, mean + 95% CI,39K/40Ca = 44.0 + 1.5). Removal of organic material with hydrazine (Hydr) led to a marked fall in the ratio of sodium to calcium and potassium to calcium (23Na/40Ca = 5.9 + 1.4, p < 0.025 vs. respective Ctl and39K/40Ca = 1.1 + 1.5, p < 0.001 vs. respective Ctl). Similarly, when examining the cross‐section of the calvariae there was more sodium and potassium than calcium (23Na/40Ca = 8.6 + 1.6,39K/40Ca = 26.7 + 1.8). Treatment with Hydr again caused a marked fall in both ratios (23Na/40Ca = 0.3 + 1.6, p < 0.001 vs. respective Ctl and39K/40Ca = 0.02 + 1.9, p < 0.001 vs. respective Ctl). Thus, within bone the organic material contains the majority of the sodium and potassium. This suggests that the organic material in bone and not the mineral itself is responsible for the acute buffering of the additional hydrogen ions during metabolic acidosis.
Adiponectin Promotes Macrophage Polarization toward an Anti-inflammatory Phenotype*

It is established that the adipocyte-derived cytokine adiponectin protects against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but the effect of this adipokine on macrophage polarization, an important mediator of disease progression, has never been assessed. We hypothesized that adiponectin modulates macrophage polarization from that resembling a classically activated M1 phenotype to that resembling alternatively-activated M2 cells. Peritoneal macrophages and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells of adipose tissue isolated from adiponectin knock-out mice displayed increased M1 markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and decreased M2 markers, including arginase-1, macrophage galactose N-acetyl-galactosamine specific lectin-1, and interleukin-10. The systemic delivery of adenovirus expressing adiponectin significantly augmented arginase-1 expression in peritoneal macrophages and SVF cells in both wild-type and adiponectin knock-out mice. In culture, the treatment of macrophages with recombinant adiponectin protein led to an increase in the levels of M2 markers and a reduction of reactive oxygen species and reactive oxygen species-related gene expression. Adiponectin also stimulated the expression of M2 markers and attenuated the expression of M1 markers in human monocyte-derived macrophages and SVF cells isolated from human adipose tissue. These data show that adiponectin functions as a regulator of macrophage polarization, and they indicate that conditions of high adiponectin expression may deter metabolic and cardiovascular disease progression by favoring an anti-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages.
Requirement of mosXe protein kinase for meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes induced by a cdc2 mutant lacking regulatory phosphorylation sites

The p34cdc2 protein kinase is a component of maturation-promoting factor, the master regulator of the cell cycle in all eukaryotes. The activity of p34cdc2 is itself tightly regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Predicted regulatory phosphorylation sites of Xenopus p34cdc2 were mutated in vitro, and in vitro-transcribed RNAs were injected into Xenopus oocytes. The cdc2 single mutants Thr-14----Ala and Tyr-15----Phe did not induce germinal vesicle breakdown (BVBD) upon microinjection into oocytes. In contrast, the cdc2 double mutant Ala-14/Phe-15 did induce GVBD. Both the Ala-14 and Ala-14/Phe-15p34cdc2 mutants were shown to coimmunoprecipitate cyclin B1 and to phosphorylate histone H1 in immune complex kinase assays. Microinjection of antisense oligonucleotides to c-mosXe was used to demonstrate the role of mos protein synthesis in the induction of GVBD by the Ala-14/Phe-15 cdc2 mutant. Thr-161 was also mutated. p34cdc2 single mutants Ala-161 and Glu-161 and triple mutants Ala-14/Phe-15/Ala-161 and Ala-14/Phe-15/Glu-161 failed to induce GVBD in oocytes and showed a decreased binding to cyclin B1 in coimmunoprecipitations. Each of the cdc2 mutants was also assayed by coinjection with cyclin B1 or c-mosXe RNA into oocytes. Several of the cdc2 mutants were found to affect the kinetics of cyclin B1 and/or mos-induced GVBD upon coinjection, although none affected the rate of progesterone-induced maturation. We demonstrate here the significance of Thr-14, Tyr-15, and Thr-161 of p34cdc2 in Xenopus oocyte maturation. In addition, these results suggest a regulatory role for mosXe in induction of oocyte maturation by the cdc2 mutant Ala-14/Phe-15.
In-vitro activity of biapenem, compared with imipenem and meropenem, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and mutants with known resistance mechanisms.

The activity of biapenem (L-627, LJC-10627), a new carbapenem, was investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, mutants and isolates with known resistance mechanisms to other beta-lactams. The behaviour of biapenem closely resembled that of imipenem, although it showed minor differences compared with meropenem, Inducible (i.e. normal) or derepressed chromosomal beta-lactamase expression gave slight protection against biapenem and imipenem, but insufficient to raise the MICs above clinically significant limits. This behaviour correlated with the slight lability of these compounds to the purified enzyme and with their strong capacity to induce beta-lactamase synthesis. Inducible or derepressed enzyme gave no protection against meropenem, possibly reflecting this compound's particular ability to deactivate the enzyme. Biapenem also has some ability to reversibly deactivate the enzyme. None of several plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases (TEM-2, PSE-1, -3 or -4; OXA-3,-6,-10,-11; NPS-1 or LCR-1) introduced into a P. aeruginosa PU21 recipient strain reduced susceptibility to biapenem or other carbapenems. Amongst permeability mutants, those lacking the D2 'carbapenem-specific' porin had reduced susceptibility to biapenem as well as to imipenem and meropenem. Biapenem and imipenem insusceptibility in these D2 porin-deficient mutants required continued expression of the chromosomal beta-lactamase, although this did not apply to meropenem. P. aeruginosa isolates and mutants with broad-spectrum insusceptibility ('intrinsic resistance') to penicillins, cephalosporins and unrelated drugs remained fully susceptible to biapenem and imipenem, whilst showing slightly reduced susceptibility to meropenem. Overall, these findings suggest that biapenem, like the earlier carbapenems, should prove to be a useful antipseudomonal agent, overcoming the mechanisms that commonly confer resistance to other classes of antipseudomonal beta-lactams.
Chemical characterization of organosulfates in secondary organic aerosol derived from the photooxidation of alkanes

Abstract. We report the formation of aliphatic organosulfates (OSs) in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the photooxidation of C10–C12 alkanes. The results complement those from our laboratories reporting the formation of OSs and sulfonates from gas-phase oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both studies strongly support the formation of OSs from the gas-phase oxidation of anthropogenic precursors, as hypothesized on the basis of recent field studies in which aromatic and aliphatic OSs were detected in fine aerosol collected from several major urban locations. In this study, dodecane, cyclodecane and decalin, considered to be important SOA precursors in urban areas, were photochemically oxidized in an outdoor smog chamber in the presence of either non-acidified or acidified ammonium sulfate seed aerosol. Effects of acidity and relative humidity on OS formation were examined. Aerosols collected from all experiments were characterized by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-QTOFMS). Most of the OSs identified could be explained by formation of gaseous epoxide precursors with subsequent acid-catalyzed reactive uptake onto sulfate aerosol and/or heterogeneous reactions of hydroperoxides. The OSs identified here were also observed and quantified in fine urban aerosol samples collected in Lahore, Pakistan, and Pasadena, CA, USA. Several OSs identified from the photooxidation of decalin and cyclodecane are isobars of known monoterpene organosulfates, and thus care must be taken in the analysis of alkane-derived organosulfates in urban aerosol.
Estimation of Continuous Subjective Probability Distributions in a Sequential Decision Task

A Range Betting Method (RBM) for measuring continuous subjective probability distributions (SPD) is tested in a computer-controlled sequential decision task. The decision makers are asked occasionally to place a wager upon the range of an unknown value of P, 0 ≤ P ≤ 1, generated by a computer. In addition, the decision makers predict the exact value of P, and then estimate the value of P after obtaining partial information about its value. The decision makers' estimates of the range boundaries are compared both to predicted values by the RBM and to predicted values by a confidence limits' model. In both comparisons the results indicate a regression effect and a block-to-block tracking behavior. Attempts to compare two independent measures of the same SPD are unsuccessful.
The impact of relative humidity and atmospheric pressure on mortality in Guangzhou, China.

OBJECTIVE Although many studies have examined the effects of ambient temperatures on mortality, little evidence is on health impacts of atmospheric pressure and relative humidity. This study aimed to assess the impacts of atmospheric pressure and relative humidity on mortality in Guangzhou, China. METHODS This study included 213,737 registered deaths during 2003-2011 in Guangzhou, China. A quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to assess the effects of atmospheric pressure/relative humidity. RESULTS We found significant effect of low atmospheric pressure/relative humidity on mortality. There was a 1.79% (95% confidence interval: 0.38%-3.22%) increase in non-accidental mortality and a 2.27% (0.07%-4.51%) increase in cardiovascular mortality comparing the 5th and 25th percentile of atmospheric pressure. A 3.97% (0.67%-7.39%) increase in cardiovascular mortality was also observed comparing the 5th and 25th percentile of relative humidity. Women were more vulnerable to decrease in atmospheric pressure and relative humidity than men. Age and education attainment were also potential effect modifiers. Furthermore, low atmospheric pressure and relative humidity increased temperature-related mortality. CONCLUSION Both low atmospheric pressure and relative humidity are important risk factors of mortality. Our findings would be helpful to develop health risk assessment and climate policy interventions that would better protect vulnerable subgroups of the population.
Cerebral Functional, Metabolic, and Hemodynamic Effects of Etomidate in Dogs

The effects of a continuous infusion of etomidate on cerebral function, metabolism, and hemodynamics and on the systemic circulation were examined in six dogs. The infusion rate of etomidate was progressively increased at 20-min intervals from 0.02 to 0.4 mg · kg−1 · min−1 for 2 h. Cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) decreased until there was cessation of neuronal function as reflected by the onset of an isoelectric EEG. This occurred during an infusion of 0.3 mg · kg−1 · min−1 etomidate when the animals had received a total of 10.7 mg · kg−1 over 91 min. At this time the CMRO2 was 2.6 ml · min−1 · 100 g−1, 48% of control. Thereafter, despite continued administration of etomidate to a total dose of 21.4 mg · kg−1 CMRO2 did not decrease further. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreased in association with a marked increase in cerebrovascular resistance but was independent of changes in CMRO2 CBF decreased precipitously from 145 ± 23 to 72 ± 6 ml · min−1 · 100 g−1 during the lowest infusion rate of 0.02 mg · kg−1 · min−1 etomidate and stabilized at 34–36 ml · min−1 · 100 g−1 during an infusion rate of 0.1 mg · kg−1 · min−1 · CBF remained at this level despite the continued administration of etomidate and a further decrease in CMRO2 · Etomidate produced physiologically minor but statistically significant changes in the systemic hemodynamic variables. Assays of cerebral metabolites taken at the end of the infusion revealed a normal energy state and a very mild but significant increase in cerebral lactate to 1.49 μmol · g−1. We conclude that etomidate is a potent, direct cerebral vasoconstrictor that appears to be independent of its effect on CMRO2 and that the cerebral metabolic effects of etomidate are secondary to its effect on neuronal function, with little if any direct or toxic effects on metabolic pathways.
Variations articulatoires en debut de constituants prosodiques de differents niveaux en francais

Dans cette these, je montre qu'en francais l'articulation d'un segment place en position initiale dans un constituant est fonction du niveau prosodique de ce constituant. Un segment initial dans un constituant de niveau inferieur se distingue d'un segment initial dans un constituant superieur par des variations articulatoires dont l'amplitude augmente graduellement en suivant la hierarchie des constituants. Cet effet de la position prosodique est confirme dans cette etude sur plusieurs segments (occlusives, fricatives, liquides, voyelles) et sur plusieurs types d'articulation (linguale, nasale, glottale). Les variations consistent en une augmentation du degre de contact linguopalatal pour tous les segments et une diminution du debit d'air nasal pour les consonnes et voyelles nasales, en debut de constituant superieur. Pour les voyelles initiales, la position prosodique conditionne aussi l'apparition de la glottalisation : elle est plus frequente en debut de constituant superieur. La duree et l'energie acoustique de certains segments initiaux sont aussi influencees par la position prosodique, mais cet effet reflete moins la hierarchie des constituants que les variations articulatoires. L'influence de la position prosodique apparait comme un effet local n'affectant que le segment initial d'une syllabe cv ou d'un groupe de consonnes cc. Cette influence est optionnelle et variable : le nombre et la nature des positions distinguees sont fonction des locuteurs, des articulateurs et des segments. Les variations articulatoires realisees en position initiale refletent, au niveau de la production, l'encodage prosodique de la phrase en constituants de differents niveaux. Ces variations peuvent etre expliquees par un renforcement articulatoire local en position initiale, celui-ci etant fonction du niveau prosodique du constituant.
Investigation of intraoperative brain deformation using a 1.5-T interventional MR system: preliminary results

All image-guided neurosurgical systems that the authors are aware of assume that the head and its contents behave as a rigid body. It is important to measure intraoperative brain deformation (brain shift) to provide some indication of the application accuracy of image-guided surgical systems, and also to provide data to develop and validate nonrigid registration algorithms to correct for such deformation. The authors are collecting data from patients undergoing neurosurgery in a high-field (1.5 T) interventional magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. High-contrast and high-resolution gradient-echo MR image volumes are collected immediately prior to surgery, during surgery, and at the end of surgery, with the patient intubated and lying on the operating table in the operative position. Here, the authors report initial results from six patients: one freehand biopsy, one stereotactic functional procedure, and four resections. The authors investigate intraoperative brain deformation by examining threshold boundary overlays and difference images and by measuring ventricular volume. They also present preliminary results obtained using a nonrigid registration algorithm to quantify deformation. They found that some cases had much greater deformation than others, and also that, regardless of the procedure, there was very little deformation of the midline, the tentorium, the hemisphere contralateral to the procedure, and ipsilateral structures except those that are within 1 cm of the lesion or are gravitationally above the surgical site.
The Expression Pattern of Annexin A1 in Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma and Its Clinicopathologic Significance

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a 37-kDa protein with calcium and phospholipid binding properties. It is a member of the subfamily A of annexin (ANX), and presents in organisms from molds to mammals. ANX shares a conserved COOH-terminal with repeated domains and an N-terminal region, the variability of which confers specific annexin function. Its anti-inflammatory property is attributed to ANXA1 binding to surface receptors of granulocytes and macrophages, and its ability to inhibit phospholipase A2. It plays various roles in the regulation of apoptosis, intracellular signal transduction, differentiation, and proliferation. ANXA1 is also known to be involved in the carcinogenesis of many tumors. The expression of ANXA1 is increased in hairy cell leukemia, pancreatic cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is decreased in cancers of esophagus, larynx, prostate and B-cell lymphoma. ANX is known to be localized in the cytoplasm and moves to the membrane or the nucleus depending on calcium level and stimulation. Recent studies have shown that specific subcellular localization of ANXA1 is associated with epithelial differentiation and may be a prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the urinary bladder is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, and comprises approximately 90% of all primary tumors of this organ. Development of UC is associated with chemical exposure, cigarette smoking, schistosomal infections, and genetic alterations. UC is known to progress along two divergent pathways: one is characterized by low grade non-invasive papillary tumors preceded by hyperplasia. The other is that of high grade invasive tumors, which progress from carcinoma in situ (CIS) or arise de novo. While low grade papillary tumors have frequent mutations of HRAS and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) genes activating the receptor tyrosine kinase-RAS pathway, high grade invasive tumors harbor defects in the p53 and/or the retinoblastoma protein (RB) pathways. Recently, ANXA1 emerges as a tumorrelated protein in UC, however, the significance of ANXA1 in bladder carcinogenesis is not yet fully understood and study results remain inconsistent. Cui et al. showed that ANXA1 expression was down-regulated in higher histologic grade of UC, but Li et al. reported contradictory outcome with their The Expression Pattern of Annexin A1 in Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma and Its Clinicopathologic Significance
Transient, powerful pressures are generated in the brain by a rotational acceleration impulse to the head

A rotational acceleration impulse to a head, as occurs at traffic accidents, sport injuries, assaults and falls, induces a diffuse brain damage that eventually could result in persistent neuropsychiatric deficits and neurodegeneration. Emphasis has been concentrated on the relative motion of the brain inside the skull during head impact, whereas less attention has been paid to whether intracranial pressure changes are generated and, if so, the implications thereof. In the present experimental study we investigated in an animal model system, based on rabbits, if a sagittal, anterior–posterior rotational acceleration of a head generated intracranial pressure changes, recorded by fibre optic pressure sensors, inserted ipsilaterally in the parieto‐temporal and the occipital lobes. Two levels of rotational acceleration were used in the experiments; one higher, corresponding to the threshold limit for moderate diffuse brain injury, and one lower, close to being noninjurious. Several pressure recordings were performed in each rabbit at the two acceleration levels. The pressure recordings invariably revealed the same general characteristics of rapid, positive and negative pressures within the brain, with variations in amplitude and duration, lasting for up to 10 ms. A major finding was the generation of powerful negative pressures, as low as 0.3 bars in absolute pressure. The most prominent difference in amplitudes of the negative peak pressures between the two applied acceleration levels was demonstrated at the parieto‐temporal location. The presented pressure recordings are the first to disclose the generation of transient, powerful intracerebral pressures at rotational acceleration of the head, which must be considered in studies of brain injury generation and distribution as well as prevention.