Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of 5-Bromo-2’-Deoxyuridine-Labeled Cells during Mouse Spermatogenesis by Heat-Induced Antigen Retrieval in Lectin Staining and Immunohistochemistry

DNA replication occurs during S-phase in spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes during spermatogenesis. 5-Bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) is incorporated into synthesized DNA and is detectable in the nucleus by immunohistochemistry (IHC). To identify BrdU-labeled spermatogenic cells, the spermatogenic stages must be determined by visualizing acrosomes and detecting cell type-specific marker molecules in the seminiferous tubules. However, the antibody reaction with BrdU routinely requires denaturation of the DNA, which is achieved by pretreating tissue sections with hydrochloric acid; however, this commonly interferes with further histochemical approaches. Therefore, we examined optimal methods for pretreating paraffin sections of the mouse testis to detect incorporated BrdU by an antibody and, at the same time, visualize acrosomes with peanut agglutinin (PNA) or detect several marker molecules with antibodies. We found that the use of heat-induced antigen retrieval (HIAR), which consisted of heating at 95C in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 9.0) for 15 min, was superior to the use of 2 N hydrochloric acid for 90 min at room temperature in terms of the quality of subsequent PNA-lectin histochemistry with double IHC for BrdU and an appropriate stage marker protein. With this method, we identified BrdU-labeled spermatogenic cells during mouse spermatogenesis as A1 spermatogonia through to preleptotene spermatocytes.
Vertebrate head induction by anterior primitive endoderm

In vertebrates the antero‐posterior organization of the embryonic body axis is thought to result from the activity of two separate centers, the head organizer and the trunk organizer, as operationally defined by Spemann in the 1920s. Current molecular studies have supported the existence of a trunk organizer activity while the presence of a distinct head inducing center has remained elusive. Mainly based on analyses of headless mutants in mice, it has been proposed that the anterior axial mesoderm plays a determining role in head induction. Recent gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies in various organisms, however, provide compelling evidence that a largely ignored region, the anterior primitive endoderm, specifies rostral identity. In this review we discuss the emerging concept that the anterior primitive endoderm, rather than the prechordal plate mesoderm, induces head development in the vertebrate embryo.
The Phenylpropanoid Pathway Is Controlled at Different Branches by a Set of R2R3-MYB C2 Repressors in Grapevine1

A set of transcriptional repressors negatively regulates the expression of genes involved in different branches of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Because of the vast range of functions that phenylpropanoids possess, their synthesis requires precise spatiotemporal coordination throughout plant development and in response to the environment. The accumulation of these secondary metabolites is transcriptionally controlled by positive and negative regulators from the MYB and basic helix-loop-helix protein families. We characterized four grapevine (Vitis vinifera) R2R3-MYB proteins from the C2 repressor motif clade, all of which harbor the ethylene response factor-associated amphiphilic repression domain but differ in the presence of an additional TLLLFR repression motif found in the strong flavonoid repressor Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtMYBL2. Constitutive expression of VvMYB4a and VvMYB4b in petunia (Petunia hybrida) repressed general phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes and selectively reduced the amount of small-weight phenolic compounds. Conversely, transgenic petunia lines expressing VvMYBC2-L1 and VvMYBC2-L3 showed a severe reduction in petal anthocyanins and seed proanthocyanidins together with a higher pH of crude petal extracts. The distinct function of these regulators was further confirmed by transient expression in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves and grapevine plantlets. Finally, VvMYBC2-L3 was ectopically expressed in grapevine hairy roots, showing a reduction in proanthocyanidin content together with the down-regulation of structural and regulatory genes of the flavonoid pathway as revealed by a transcriptomic analysis. The physiological role of these repressors was inferred by combining the results of the functional analyses and their expression patterns in grapevine during development and in response to ultraviolet B radiation. Our results indicate that VvMYB4a and VvMYB4b may play a key role in negatively regulating the synthesis of small-weight phenolic compounds, whereas VvMYBC2-L1 and VvMYBC2-L3 may additionally fine tune flavonoid levels, balancing the inductive effects of transcriptional activators.
A novel reporter rat strain that expresses LacZ upon Cre‐mediated recombination

The recent widespread application of Cre/loxP technology has resulted in a new generation of conditional animal models that can better recapitulate many salient features of human disease. These models benefit from the ability to monitor the expression and functionality of Cre protein. We have generated a conditional (Cre/loxP dependent) LacZ reporter rat (termed the LacZ541 rat) to monitor Cre in transgenic rats. When LacZ541 rats were bred with another transgenic rat line expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the CAG promoter, LacZ/Cre double transgenic embryos displayed ubiquitous expression of LacZ, and when LacZ541 rats were bred with transgenic rats expressing Cre/loxP‐dependent oncogenic H‐ or K‐ras, LacZ was expressed in the lesions resulting from the activation of the oncogene. The LacZ541 rat enables evaluation of the performance of Cre‐expressing systems which are based upon transgenic rats or somatic gene transfer vectors and provides efficient and simple lineage marking. genesis 51:268–274. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural analysis of tissues affected by cytochrome C oxidase deficiency due to mutations in the SCO2 gene

Structural and histochemical studies carried out in a series of seven cases (from five families) with isolated cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency caused by mutations in the SCO2 gene ( 1, 2 ) disclosed changes concentrated in the nervous system, skeletal muscle and myocardium. In five patients homozygous for the E140K mutation, the phenotype was predominantly neuromuscular and the average life span ranged between 9 and 15 months. In two cases, the course was more rapid (death at 7 and 11 weeks of life) and featured marked cardiac hypertrophy (3‐ and 4‐fold increase in heart weight). This predominantly cardiomyopathic phenotype was associated with compound heterozygosity (E140K with another nonsense mutation) in the SCO2 gene. Polioencephalopathy with neurodegeneration and neuronal drop out was present in all cases with evidence that retinal neurons might be seriously affected too. Involvement of spinal motoneurons together with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency in muscle represents a “double hit” for the skeletal muscle. The mitochondrial population was not found to be significantly increased or structurally altered, with the exception of two compound heterozygotes in which the cardiac mitochondria were increased in number and size. Our report extends knowledge of the pathology of COX deficiency caused by mutations in the SCO2 gene.
SITUATIONAL GENERALITY OF CONSERVATION.

The influence of situational variables (materials used to test for the attainment of conservation) on the sequential development of the conservation of substance, weight, and volume as proposed by Jean Piaget was studied in 120 grade school children. A scalogram analysis indicated that conservation of the three quantities is achieved in the above sequence on each of the materials. In an analysis of variance, the effects of the type of quantity, age, material, and the interaction of age and quantity were found to be significant. Although variation across materials was present, inversions in the conservation sequence were rare. The finding that variation across materials is greater at some age levels than others suggested that a relation between situational variables and conservation behavior may be most evident during the formation of a conservation schema.
Can an ethical work climate influence payment discipline

Purpose: All European companies are faced with the lack of payment discipline, which often affects even their survival. One of the key reasons for the lack of payment discipline is poor business ethics, which is primarily introduced with the subject of ethical climate in the literature. For this reason, we wanted to determine whether a company's ethical climate influences its payment discipline.Design/methodology/approach: In the research, we used Arnaud's measurement instrument (2010) that helped us to identify six dimensions of ethical climate. The data about a company’s ethical climate were later compared with the data about its payment discipline, calculated using the Dun & Bradstreet rating agency methodology. We included in the sample 273 Slovenian companies, which represented 9.1% of all companies invited to take part in the survey (2978 Slovenian enterprises with 10 or more employees). Findings: We established that (among the six dimensions of the ethical climate) the dimension “moral sensitivity – the lack of norms of empathetic concern” had statistically significant influence on the average delay of payment, and the more significant for the company the lack of norms of empathetic concern was, the longer the delay of the payment to suppliers would be. Our conclusion is that the appropriate forms of the incorporation of training and education on ethical subjects into business studies may increase the payment discipline of companies.Originality/value: The present study represents an important contribution to understanding the causes of payment defaults. The study also includes non-financial antecedents of payment discipline, which represents a new, important contribution of the research.
Adjuvant intraportal chemotherapy for Dukes B2 and C colorectal cancer also receiving systemic treatment: results of a multicenter randomized trial

n a randomized trial, the authors evaluated the possible adjuvant activity of intraportal chemotherapy (with 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2/day in continuous infusion for 7 days and mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 at day 7) administered after surgery to half of the patients who underwent a full resection for Dukes B2 or C colorectal cancer. The procedure appeared manageable and safe. Two hundred and sixty patients were initially randomized, among whom 173 were finally considered as fully evaluable after having completed six courses of systemic chemotherapy. The reasons for withdrawal were basically tumoral ones and patients or doctors compliance. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years, no difference could be observed in the patients evolution assessed as relapses or deaths rate, or as relapse-free (at 5 years: 68% in the portal treatment group versus 70% in the control group) or overall survival (at 5 years: 76 versus 74%). The frequency of hepatic metastases (21 versus 18%) was also similar in both groups.
Malignant potential of H22 hepatocarcinoma cells increases after recovery from IFN‐γ‐mediated inhibition

IFN‐γ (interferon γ) can effectively suppress tumours, but it has also been found to promote tumour progression. However, the underlying mechanisms by which it enhances malignancy have not been fully elucidated. By using a mouse model that expresses IFN‐γ locally in muscle, we found that the growth potential of tumours was increased after a quick decrease of IFN‐γ. Furthermore, the up‐regulation of IRF‐2 (IFN regulatory factor 2) and down‐regulation of IRF‐1 were also found in the tumour cells. Along these lines, IFN‐γ led to down‐regulated expression of cyclin‐D1, Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL and up‐regulated expression of p21WAF1 and Bax in tumour cells. Yet, the expression of these genes, as well as activation of ERK (extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) and NF‐κB (nuclear factor‐κB), was also reversed shortly after a decrease in IFN‐γ, all of which resulted in increase tumour cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance. These findings indicate that the malignant potential of tumour cells may be suppressed by interfering with IRF‐2 signalling pathways during and after decreased IFN‐γ in tumour microenvironments.
Impact of Irrigation on Regional Climate Over Eastern China

Irrigated area has rapidly expanded over the North China Plain (NCP), over the second half of the twentieth century. Simultaneously, there has been an observed increase in specific humidity and precipitation and a decrease in surface temperature during summer. The impacts of irrigation on regional climate in Eastern China are investigated using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology‐Regional Climate Model with irrigation module. The results of our experiments clearly support that surface cooling as well as enhanced precipitation are attributable to irrigation over the NCP. The irrigation‐induced soil moisture change simulated over the NCP during summer resulted in cooler surface temperatures by 1~4°C over this region, which led to a reduction of the planetary boundary layer, higher surface pressure, and significant changes in low‐level circulation. Our results indicate that moisture convergence is enhanced over Hebei and Henan province along the Taihang‐Mountain, which generated a significant increase in precipitation by 20~40% over this region.
National Science Foundation Report on Efficiency of Grant Size and Duration Principal Investigator FY 2001 Grant Award Survey and Institutional Survey

The National Science Foundation is charged with supporting and strengthening our nation's science and engineering workforce. NSF research awards play a key role in this process by sustaining the nation's academic research enterprise and providing educational and training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers. This survey of principal investigators and institutions receiving grants examined their views on changes that could be made to the budget or duration of awards to improve their ability to support the NSF mission. The findings suggest that awards of longer duration will enhance continuity and avert disruptions in graduate student education.
Household energy use: a comparison of household energy consumption and expenditure across three provinces

This paper details and contrasts the patterns of household energy consumption from three sample groups across three provinces in South Africa. The three samples were selected from unelectrified areas in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, North West and the Eastern Cape. The paper shows the range of energy sources and carriers as well as the most prominent and common applications. Understand-ing patterns of household energy consumption and expenditure, as well as the energy burden of rural households can be used to shape and inform ener-gy interventions within these regions for both public and private sector concerns.
Volatility–volume causality across single stock spot–futures markets in India

ABSTRACT This study examines the causal relationships between volatility and volume across spot and futures market for the 50 constituent stocks of the CNX NIFTY Index. Granger non-causality tests implemented using vector autoregression (VAR) and asymmetric VAR models indicate the presence of significant causal relations from both the spot and futures volume to both the spot and futures volatility. Bidirectional causal relationships between spot and futures volume were observed for almost all stocks but few stocks displayed a similar relationship between volatilities. The results highlight the importance of volume in absorbing information and its behaviour as the conduit of information.
Association of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) with HLA-DPB1*04 and SEMA6A gene variants: evidence from genome-wide analysis.

OBJECTIVE To identify genetic determinants of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA). METHODS We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 492 GPA cases and 1,506 healthy controls (white subjects of European descent), followed by replication analysis of the most strongly associated signals in an independent cohort of 528 GPA cases and 1,228 controls. RESULTS Genome-wide significant associations were identified in 32 single-nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers across the HLA region, the majority of which were located in the HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DPA1 genes encoding the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DPβ chain 1 and DPα chain 1 proteins, respectively. Peak association signals in these 2 genes, emanating from SNPs rs9277554 (for DPβ chain 1) and rs9277341 (DPα chain 1) were strongly replicated in an independent cohort (in the combined analysis of the initial cohort and the replication cohort, P = 1.92 × 10(-50) and 2.18 × 10(-39) , respectively). Imputation of classic HLA alleles and conditional analyses revealed that the SNP association signal was fully accounted for by the classic HLA-DPB1*04 allele. An independent single SNP, rs26595, near SEMA6A (the gene for semaphorin 6A) on chromosome 5, was also associated with GPA, reaching genome-wide significance in a combined analysis of the GWAS and replication cohorts (P = 2.09 × 10(-8) ). CONCLUSION We identified the SEMA6A and HLA-DP loci as significant contributors to risk for GPA, with the HLA-DPB1*04 allele almost completely accounting for the MHC association. These two associations confirm the critical role of immunogenetic factors in the development of GPA.
Lessons from Fray Bentos: forest industry, overseas investments and discursive regulation

Globalisation in the forest industry has its own particular characteristics which are due to a high degree of capital intensity and limits in raw material supply. Investments in new capacities are expensive and the rate of forest regeneration is slow in the traditional resource areas in the conifer dominated forests of the global North. The supply problem has lead forest companies to establish tree plantations and pulp mills in the temperate and tropical zones. This has largely modified global forest-industrial relations. I examine here how and why the establishment of the Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay by a Finnish company, Metsa-Botnia, turned into an international conflict. I also show how the political reactions to the mill planning in fact relied on and further developed the international mechanisms of forest-industrial regulation. The partners of the mill project were forced to prove that the fears expressed by critical parties would not come true. The article ends with some suggestions to improve social sensitivity of forest-industrial projects by studying more systematically the dependencies between the forest industry and the environing society.
CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 Immunolocalization in Normal Human Nasal Respiratory Mucosa

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), MDR1 (multidrug resistance), and MRP1 (multidrug resistance-associated protein), members of the ABC transporter superfamily, possess multiple functions, particularly Cl–, anion, and glutathione conjugate transport and cell detoxification. They are also hypothesized to have a number of complementary functions. It is generally accepted that data obtained from nasal mucosa can be extrapolated to lower airway cell physiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate by immunohistochemistry the differential localization of CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 in the normal mucosa of 10 human nasal turbinates. In ciliated epithelial cells, CFTR was inconstantly expressed at the apical cell surface, intense membranous labeling was observed for MDR1, and intense cytoplasmic labeling was observed for MRP1. In the glands, a higher level of expression was observed on serous cells, at the apical surface (for CFTR), on lateral membranes (for MDR1), and with an intracytoplasmic distribution (for MRP1). In conclusion, CFTR, MDR1 and MRP1 are expressed in the epithelium and glands of the nasal respiratory mucosa, but with different patterns of expression. These results suggest major roles for CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 in serous glandular cells and a protective function for MDR1 and MRP1 in respiratory ciliated cells.
A FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATIVE AND ACTIVE LEARNING FOR ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

The developing technology has influenced and enhanced the life around us, so the use of the digital resources must not be hindered to serve the educational, teaching and learning sectors, in the modern times more emphasis is laid on the ways of education, relating to the teaching and learning techniques or methods used in the institutions, colleges or universities, on how the learning and teaching methods be enhanced so the students learn more comfortably and in a better way suiting their capacity or learning demands. As well, it will help the teachers to convey the topic concepts in a more relevant way to the students, helping them understand better and learn in an effective way. For this concept of enhancement in teaching and learning, many steps are been taken around the globe, many methods are been used like for instance the flip teaching technique, where the students are required to go through the learning material provided by the teacher to further explore the concepts, which are explained during the classes. Other methods include research-based learning, and many more, but in the current course of time, individual traits of students when it comes to learning is often neglected, due to which the students find it difficult to understand and learn better, due to each student being unique and having various personalities and mindsets. A framework must be devised to enhance the earning ability of students based on the personalities. Modern technological tools must be used to support in the direction of teaching based on individual’s personalities and mindsets. Various groups can be formed of the students who fall into a certain category, teaching methods must be devised and quality checks must be ensured. Their learning outcomes must be measured based on their teaching methods implemented by the teachers.
Impact of Acute Biochemical Castration on Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Adult Men

Introduction. Evidence supports an inverse relationship between serum testosterone (T) and insulin resistance in men. However, data with respect to causality are limited. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of acute biochemical castration on insulin sensitivity in healthy adult men. Methods. Ten healthy, adult males (mean age 41.0 ± 3.9 yr) were studied. Subjects were studied at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks of biochemical castration. Outpatient hospital research setting. Body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), abdominal and visceral adiposity (MRI), skeletal muscle intramyocellular lipid content ([IMCL] 1H-MR spectroscopy), and insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp) were assessed before and after 2 and 4 weeks of biochemical castration induced by a GnRH antagonist (acyline 300 μg/kg subcutaneous every 10–14 days). Serum T, insulin and glucose levels, body composition, abdominal visceral fat, IMCL, and glucose disposal rate (M) were measured. Results and Conclusion. Acyline administration suppressed serum T to frankly hypogonadal levels in all subjects for the duration of the study (P <0.009). No significant changes in body composition, energy expenditure, or M were observed at either 2 or 4 weeks of castration. Acyline is an effective GnRH antagonist inducing acute castration in all subjects. ii) Four weeks of biochemical castration has no impact on insulin sensitivity in healthy men likely due to unchanged body composition variables. iii) Insulin resistance associated with chronic low T levels may be largely driven by decreased fat free mass, increased percent body fat, and/or other metabolic regulatory factors.