Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ca2+-Dependent Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Regulates Mechanical Stress–Mediated Cartilage Thinning

Our previous study identified that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a critical role in chondrocyte apoptosis and mandibular cartilage thinning in response to compressive mechanical force, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Because the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a primary site of intracellular Ca2+ storage, we hypothesized that Ca2+-dependent ERS might be involved in mechanical stress–mediated mandibular cartilage thinning. In this study, we used in vitro and in vivo models to determine Ca2+ concentrations, histological changes, subcellular changes, apoptosis, and the expression of ERS markers in mandibular cartilage and chondrocytes. The results showed that in chondrocytes, cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was dramatically increased by compressive mechanical force. Interestingly, the inhibition of Ca2+ channels by ryanodine and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, inhibitors of ryanodine receptors and inositol trisphosphate receptors, respectively, partially rescued mechanical force–mediated mandibular cartilage thinning. Furthermore, chondrocyte apoptosis was also compromised by inhibiting the increase in [Ca2+]i that occurred in response to compressive mechanical force. Mechanistically, the ERS induced by compressive mechanical force was also repressed by [Ca2+]i inhibition, as demonstrated by a decrease in the expression of the ER stress markers 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and 94 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP94) at both the mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, these data identified [Ca2+]i as a critical mediator of the pathological changes that occur in mandibular cartilage under compressive mechanical force and shed light on the treatment of mechanical stress–mediated cartilage degradation.
Expression of mRNA encoding the H1, H2, and H3 histamine receptors in the rat cochlea

Histamine may have physiological functions in the inner ear. Histamine receptors, however, have not yet been identified in the mammalian cochlea. We determined, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), that H1, H2, and H3 histamine receptor mRNA is expressed in the rat cochlea. To investigate the distribution of each receptor, the cochlea was divided into three parts: the lateral portion, the medial portion, and the modiolus. The mRNA for each receptor subtype was detected in the modiolus but not in the lateral and medial portions of the cochlea. This is the first evidence of H1, H2, and H3 histamine receptor mRNA in the rat cochlea. These findings support the suggestion that histamine may play a physiological role in the cochlea.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INVERSE MODEL FOR HONING PROCESSES BY MEANS OF NEURAL NETWORKS

In a previous paper, artificial neural networks were employed for modelling average roughness Ra in rough honing processes as a function of process variables, namely grain size, density, linear speed, tangential speed and pressure, by means of the direct problem. In addition, neural network model was compared to statistical models for modelling roughness. In the present paper the inverse problem was studied and analyzed by means of neural networks, in which given a certain average roughness Ra value, the model predicts process variables to be employed. This is not possible with statistical models. Two different approaches were considered: use of a single network or use of five networks.
Imprints and DPPA3 are bypassed during pluripotency- and differentiation-coupled methylation reprogramming in testicular germ cell tumors

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) share germline ancestry but diverge phenotypically and clinically as seminoma (SE) and nonseminoma (NSE), the latter including the pluripotent embryonal carcinoma (EC) and its differentiated derivatives, teratoma (TE), yolk sac tumor (YST), and choriocarcinoma. Epigenomes from TGCTs may illuminate reprogramming in both normal development and testicular tumorigenesis. Herein we investigate pure-histological forms of 130 TGCTs for conserved and subtype-specific DNA methylation, including analysis of relatedness to pluripotent stem cell (ESC, iPSC), primordial germ cell (PGC), and differentiated somatic references. Most generally, TGCTs conserve PGC-lineage erasure of maternal and paternal genomic imprints and DPPA3 (also known as STELLA); however, like ESCs, TGCTs show focal recurrent imprinted domain hypermethylation. In this setting of shared physiologic erasure, NSEs harbor a malignancy-associated hypermethylation core, akin to that of a diverse cancer compendium. Beyond these concordances, we found subtype epigenetic homology with pluripotent versus differentiated states. ECs demonstrate a striking convergence of both CpG and CpH (non-CpG) methylation with pluripotent states; the pluripotential methyl-CpH signature crosses species boundaries and is distinct from neuronal methyl-CpH. EC differentiation to TE and YST entails reprogramming toward the somatic state, with loss of methyl-CpH but de novo methylation of pluripotency loci such as NANOG. Extreme methyl-depletion among SE reflects the PGC methylation nadir. Adjacent to TGCTs, benign testis methylation profiles are determined by spermatogenetic proficiency measured by Johnsen score. In sum, TGCTs share collective entrapment in a PGC-like state of genomic-imprint and DPPA3 erasure, recurrent hypermethylation of cancer-associated targets, and subtype-dependent pluripotent, germline, or somatic methylation.
Comparison of CLEAN-SC for 2D and 3D Scanning Surfaces

ABSTRACT We present experimental data comparing the accuracy obtained for 2D and 3D scanningsurfaces using CLEAN-SC deconvolution of beamformed acoustic maps. A spherical arrayis used to obtain recordings from a dense point cloud of sound source locations. Beamform-ing and CLEAN-SC acoustic maps are generated using traditional 2D scanning surfacesand 3D scanning surfaces corresponding to the surface geometry of an object being acous-tically imaged. Results for the 3D method show improved accuracy of measured positionsand magnitudes of sound sources under a range of circumstances. The most beneﬁt, inregard to position error, is for frequencies above 5kHz and sound sources located less thana metre from the array. In these circumstances, the three-dimensionality is more dominant. 1 INTRODUCTION Acoustic imaging using microphone phased array beamforming and deconvolution have tradi-tionally used planar scanning surfaces to image the noise emitted by an object. This 2D scansurface is usually oriented perpendicular to the array’s Z axis and located roughly at the samedistance from the array as the object. This method is simple to use since the only informa-tion required to be known about the object is the approximate distance of the object from thearray. Often, however, only a few of the scan points will correspond to the actual 3D surfaceof the object. This can cause incorrect focus (time delays) and spherical spreading correctionbeing used for the beamforming. This can lead to errors in the resulting 2D beamforming and
The Impact of E-Learning on Egyptian Higher Education and its Effect on Learner’s Motivation: A Case Study

Web-based learning tools provide integrated environments of various technologies to support diverse educators' and learners' needs via the Internet. An open source Moodle e-learning platform has been implemented at universities in Egypt as an aid to deliver e-content and to provide the institution with various possibilities for implementing asynchronous e-learning web-based modules. This paper shows that the use of interactive features of e-learning increases the motivation of undergraduate students for the learning process.
Coexistence of Neoplasia and Cortical Dysplasia in Patients Presenting with Seizures

Summary: Tumors and cortical dysplasia are associated with epilepsy, but few studies have examined the coexistence of neoplasia and dysplasia in these patients. We studied 13 patients (age 4–29 years) with recurrent seizures of 1 month to 21‐year’ duration (median 72 months). Ten patients were aged <21 years. Imaging studies localized the lesion to the temporal lobe (10 patients), parietal lobe (2 patients), and frontal lobe (1 patient). Tumors included ganglioglioma (8 patients), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) (3 patients), and low‐grade as‐ trocytoma (2 patients). Cortical dysplasia, including atypical aggregates of neurons (6 patients), multifocal loss of the cortical laminar architecture (7 patients), and neurons in the molecular layer of the cortex (3 patients) were observed near but separate from the tumor. Coexistence of certain tumors with cortical dysplasia, most frequently observed in the pediatric population, suggests a hamar‐tomatous/dysplastic nature of the neoplasms.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity From 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in a Hong Kong Chinese Population

PurposeTo determine the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm Chinese infants. DesignRetrospective review. MethodsMedical records were reviewed for all neonates screened for ROP between January 2007 and December 2012 in Hong Kong. Screening was offered to VLBW (⩽1500 g) and/or preterm (gestation, ⩽32 weeks) neonates using the Royal College of Ophthalmologists ROP guideline and the International Classification of ROP by 3 pediatric ophthalmologists. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses for both ROP and type 1 ROP. ResultsOf the 513 screened infants, the mean gestational age (GA) was 30.0 ± 2.5 weeks and the mean birth weight (BW) was 1232.6 ± 325.2 g. The incidence of ROP and type 1 ROP was 18.5% and 3.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, a lighter BW, lower GA, blood transfusion, patent ductus arteriosus, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, postnatal hypotension, inotropes usage, low Apgar scores, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, supplementary oxygen use, respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, surfactant use, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were found to be associated with the development of both ROP and type 1 ROP (P < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, BW, GA, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP. Preeclampsia and eclampsia were the only protective factors for ROP development on multivariable logistic regression analysis (P = 0.02). ConclusionsIn VLBW preterm Chinese infants, lower GA, lighter BW, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP, whereas preeclampsia and eclampsia were protective.
spirating and Filtering therothrombotic Debris uring Percutaneous oronary Intervention

he coronary “no-reflow” phenomenon can occur during eperfusion of an infarct artery or after percutaneous coroary intervention (PCI) (1). It represents inadequate myoardial perfusion despite epicardial coronary artery patency nd can be caused by reperfusion injury, embolization of therosclerotic or thrombotic debris, or ischemia-induced icrovascular damage from endothelial cell injury, leukoyte plugging of capillaries, myocardial cell edema, free xygen radical generation, and microvascular spasm. Persisent no-reflow is associated with a high incidence of yocardial infarction (MI) and the risks of congestive heart ailure and death.
Different parvalbumin and GABA expression in human epileptogenic focal cortical dysplasia

Several studies have reported that inhibitory networks are altered in dysplastic tissue obtained from epilepsy surgery specimens. A consistent decrease in the number of inhibitory interneuronal subpopulation that expresses parvalbumin (PV) was reported in postsurgical tissue from patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). We tested if the decrease in PV protein expression observed in epileptic tissue corresponds to a parallel impairment in the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic compartment.
Black hole entropy and higher curvature interactions.

A general formula for the entropy of stationary black holes in Lovelock higher-curvature gravity theories is obtained by integrating the first law of black hole mechanics, which is derived by Hamiltonian methods. The entropy is not simply one quarter of the surface area of the horizon, but also includes a sum of intrinsic curvature invariants integrated over a cross section of the horizon.
Cognitive Development oung children ’ s disambiguation across the senses enna

When asked to find the referent of a novel label, young children usually select a novel object rather than an object that has a known label. However, children did not show this so-called disambiguation effect in a situation that required cross-modal generalization of the known label (Scofield et al., 2009). In three experiments, children learned a label for an object that they could see, but not touch, then examined two objects that they could touch, but not see. One of these tactile objects was novel, whereas the other was an exemplar of the just-trained label. On the critical trials, children were asked to decide which object was the referent of a novel label. Neither 3nor 4-year-olds favored the novel object unless they were first asked to choose the one that was the referent of the just-trained label (both age groups) or choose the one that was the same as the visual training object (4-year-olds only). Children’s tendency to disambiguate across the senses was associated with how accurately they judged their own knowledge of object labels. These findings are consistent with the claim that the cross-modal disambiguation effect can be undermined by children’s reactions to discovering the cross-modal match and by their failure to retrieve the known label for this matching object when considering whether a novel label applies to it. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization on lung function and anthropometric variables in children with cystic fibrosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate how lung function and growth changed over time in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) colonized with Pseudornonas aeruginosa (Pa) compared with those free of the organism. A total of 192 children attended our cystic fibrosis clinic between 1982 and 1992. Sixty‐two of these had three or more annual assessments for lung function, and 117 had three or more annual assessments for height and weight. When lung function was expressed as a standard deviation score (SDS), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity (FEF25) decreased significantly more with respect to height in colonized compared with noncolonized children: FEV1 −0.052 versus −0.015 SDS/cm (P < 0.05); FEF1, −0.060 versus −0.007 SDS/cm (P < 0.05); forced vital capacity (FVC), −0.034 versus −0.012 (NS). In actual values those patients colonized with Pa increased their FEV, by 16.4 versus 31.6 mL/cm (P < 0.01); FVC by 28.8 versus 41.4 ML/cm, P < 0.01; and FEF25 by −0.001 versus 0.015 mL/cm, P < 0.01. In terms of height, colonized children grew at 5.63 versus 6.96 cm/yr, P < 0.001, and height SDS decreased in colonized compared with noncolonized children at −0.031 versus 0.08 SDS/yr, P < 0.05. Clinically, most children with CF, with or without Pa, grew within ± SD of the norm for weight and height. However, in terms of lung function despite optimum pulmonary management colonized children deteriorated significantly faster. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a mode of expression mediated by the defence mechanism, through which invasive hazardous substances are rejected. The inflammatory reaction of ACD, however, is frequently too severe to allow a normal daily life. Industrial workers suffering from ACD are frequently forced to abandon their jobs. ACD is an inflammatory reaction mediated by type IV hypersensitivity' (i.e., contact sensitivity). Almost all of the allergens that induce and elicit ACD have relatively low molecular weights and belong to the "hapten" immunologically. The skin and its regional lymph node play an important role In induction and elicitation of ACD. The mechanism involved in contact sensitivity is divided into two parts: the regional lymph node as center (from the skin to the lymph node) (afferent limb) and from the lymph node to the skin (efferent limb) (Fig. 1). This article discusses recent advances in understanding the mechanism of contact sensitivity.
Opportunities for Outreach: Medicaid Participation Among Children in Ohio

Abstract This research seeks to determine individual and household differences between children who enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and children who did not. In addition, the study investigates the specific reasons that families provided for not enrolling their children in Medicaid/CHIP. Data from the 1998 Ohio Family Health Survey were used to determine individual and household differences between children who were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and children who were not. Findings show that lower household income, parental unemployment, parental health insurance, and younger (child) age, were associated with greater participation in Medicaid/CHIP among eligible children in Ohio. Children in poorer health and those who resided in counties with higher levels of expenditures on outreach were also more likely to be enrolled. Findings from this study suggest a substantial need to increase awareness about program eligibility and to develop creative outreach strategies aimed at reaching nontraditional Medicaid families.
Age and Sex in the Social Structure of the United States

Points of interest. Male, female, and youth cultures in our society. Significance of the "swell guy" and "glamor girl. " The isolation of old age in America. German versus American youth cultures. Adult male specialization versus the "common human" values of youth. The domestic, the glamorous, and the good-companion roles of women. Are sex roles becoming more alike or unlike? Sex roles and the difficulty of maintaining companionship in modern marriage. [Ed.]
The Lower Serum Immunoglobulin G2 Level in Severe Cases than in Mild Cases of Pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza Is Associated with Cytokine Dysregulation

ABSTRACT The majority of patients with pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 had mild illness, but some, including those with no risk factors for severe disease, may succumb to this infection. Besides viral factors such as the D222/225G substitution of the hemagglutinin, host factors such as IgG2 subclass deficiency recently was reported to be associated with severe disease in a cohort of Australian patients besides other known risk factors, including underlying chronic illness, extremes of age, and pregnancy. We conducted a case-control study of 38 Asian patients with respiratory failure due to severe pandemic influenza and compared the results to those for 36 mild cases. None had selective IgG2 deficiency, but the level of IgG2 subclass was significantly lower in the severe cases (3.55 g/liter versus 4.75 g/liter; P = 0.002), whereas the levels of IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 were not significantly different from those of the mild cases. Previous studies suggested that some IgHG2 and FcγRIIa genotypes were associated with IgG2 deficiency. The allelic frequency of the IgHG2 genotypes in our severe cases was not correlated with their levels of IgG2, while that of FcγRIIa was not significantly different from that of the general Han Chinese population (P = 0.216). Only the overall cytokine/chemokine profile (P = 0.029) and serum globulin level (P = 0.005) were found to be independently associated with the IgG2 level by multivariate analysis. The lower IgG2 level in our severe group might be related to cytokine dysregulation rather than being a significant risk factor for severe pandemic influenza. The importance of this finding for therapeutic intervention will require further studies of larger cohorts of patients.
Distribution and Antibacterial Activity of Actinomycetes from Shola Soils of Tropical Montane Forest in Kerala, South India

Tropical Montane forests of Kerala are relatively u nexplored and offer potential habitat in the search for Actinomycetes that could produce novel bioactive compounds. Search for novel bioactive compounds from Actinomycetes in virgin habitats assumes significance as the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens are threatening effective medic al intervention through conventional antibiotics. In the present st udy spatio-temporal variation of Actinomycetes in relation to important soil physico-chemical characteristics of the Shola forest and their potential to elaborate antibacteri al substances has been evaluated. Identification of the isolates revealed that most of them were belonging to Streptomyces followed by Nocardia, Micromonospora, Pseudonocardia, Streptosporangium, Nocardiopsis and Saccharomonospora. A total of 36 Actinomycetes strains were characterized and screened for antiba cterial activities using well diffusion method agai nst 6 bacterial pathogens. Among the 36 isolates 33 were active aga inst one or more of the tested pathogens, of that 4 3% exhibited activity against Gram negative and 57% showed activity against Gram positive bacteria. Isolate SH20 ( Streptomyces) showed activity against all the tested organisms and its i nhibition zone diameter was also high. The results indicate that the Shola forest soils could be an interesting source of Actinomycetes with potential antibacterial activity.
Interactions Among Dietry Fat, Protein, and Cholesterol in Atherosclerosis‐susceptible Pigeons: EFFECTS ON CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Atherosclerosis-susceptible pigeons fed cholesterol developed coronary atherosclerosis much more frequently than pigeons maintained on a cholesterol-free diet. Fewer of the cholesterol-fed pigeons fed a low protein diet developed coronary atherosclerosis than did cholesterol-fed pigeons on a high protein diet. Corn oil decreased the frequency of coronary atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed pigeons. Limited evidence suggests that the coronary arteries and aortae in noncholesterol-fed birds are independent of each other in their susceptibility to atherosclerosis.
Tumor‐associated mutations in O6‐methylguanine DNA‐methyltransferase (MGMT) reduce DNA repair functionality

MGMT is the primary vehicle for cellular removal of alkyl lesions from the O‐6 position of guanine and the O‐4 position of thymine. While key to the maintenance of genomic integrity, MGMT also removes damage induced by alkylating chemotherapies, inhibiting the efficacy of cancer treatment. Germline variants of human MGMT are well‐characterized, but somatic variants found in tumors were, prior to this work, uncharacterized. We found that MGMT G132R, from a human esophageal tumor, and MGMT G156C, from a human colorectal cancer cell line, are unable to rescue methyltransferase‐deficient Escherichia coli as well as wild type (WT) human MGMT after treatment with a methylating agent. Using pre‐steady state kinetics, we biochemically characterized these variants as having a reduced rate constant. G132R binds DNA containing an O6‐methylguanine lesion half as tightly as WT MGMT, while G156C has a 40‐fold decrease in binding affinity for the same damaged DNA versus WT. Mammalian cells expressing either G132R or G156C are more sensitive to methylating agents than mammalian cells expressing WT MGMT. G132R is slightly resistant to O6‐benzylguanine, an inhibitor of MGMT in clinical trials, while G156C is almost completely resistant to this inhibitor. The impared functionality of expressed variants G132R and G156C suggests that the presence of somatic variants of MGMT in a tumor could impact chemotherapeutic outcomes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.