Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mouse resident microglia: Isolation and characterization of immunoregulatory properties with naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cells

We describe a non‐enzymatic procedure designed to isolate in high purity resident microglia from the brains of normal mice. This procedure allowed for the characterization of the cells without concern that their surface features had been enzymatically altered during tissue processing. A cell population was obtained and judged to consist primarily of microglia because essentially all the cells were Mac‐1+, Mac‐3+, F4/80+, CD44+, CD54+, and CD86+, and they expressed CD45 with a mean fluorescence intensity value of about one‐half that of tissue macrophages. The cells also expressed marginal levels of MHC class I, CD14, CD40, and CD80, but lacked detectable MHC class II, CD4, CD8, CD45R, and CD102 molecules. Molecular phenotyping revealed that the purified microglial population contained mRNA transcripts encoding the receptor for colony stimulating factor‐1 (CSF‐1), the macrophage growth factor, and contained few, if any, transcripts for glial fibrillary acidic protein, an astrocyte‐specific marker. Ex vivo, the microglia constitutively stimulated, in the mixed leukocyte reaction, the proliferation of naïve allogeneic CD8+, but not CD4+ T‐cells. However, they failed to present a protein antigen to naïve antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cells unless pretreated with interferon‐gamma, a response that was inhibited by antibodies to CD86. Agar‐cloning experiments confirmed that normal mouse brain contains a CSF‐1–responsive cell that gave rise to cells with identical immunophenotypic characteristics as freshly isolated resident microglia. Moreover, the microglial progenitor cell located in a density fraction that was different from that containing the mature resident microglia. GLIA 22:348–359, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A 100 MHz A/D interface for PRML magnetic disk read channels

An analog-to-digital interface IC suitable for PRML read channels with a 100 MHz output rate has been designed and fabricated in a 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The prototype IC contains a low-pass filter, symbol-rate equalizer, analog-to-digital converter, and generates all required clocks from a single external reference clock. The filters are implemented using a switched-capacitor parallel filter architecture used to implement a 3:1 decimation filter and a 3-tap programmable equalizer. >
Comportamento ingestivo de ovinos alimentados com silagens de capim-elefante contendo casca de café, farelo de cacau ou farelo de mandioca

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing elephant grass silage with different additives. Twenty sheep non-castrated male kids were used in a randomized complete design, with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were: elephant grass silage (control); elephant grass silage (75%) + coffee hulls (15%); elephant grass silage (75%) + cocoa meal (15%) and elephant grass silage (75%) + cassava meal (15%). The additives were added at ensilage moment was realized in natural matter basis (weight/weight). The animals received diets with 11% protein in 60% forage and 40% concentrate proportion, on dry matter basis. The behavior variables were obtained every ten minutes during 24 hours of observation. The time spent feeding and ruminating was similar for the different silages. However, the animals that consumed diets with elephant grass silage with the addition of cassava meal showed higher idle time. The dry matter intake and the feeding (g of DM and NDF/h) and ruminating (g DM/h) efficiency were higher for diets with elephant grass silage with addition of 15% cassava meal, that was shown to be a good additive for use in elephant grass ensilage. The inclusion of cassava meal positively affected some parameters of ingestive behavior.
Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pimentão

This work was carried out to test the efficiency of various methods to evaluate the physiological quality of pepper, Capsicum annuum L. [cv. All Big] seeds, to be utilized for quality control tests and to verify their relationship with field emergence. Four pepper seed lots were evaluated for seed water content, germination, germination first count, electrical conductivity at 4 and 24 hours, accelerated aging, cold shock and field emergence. The first count test, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity at 4 and 24 hours were reliable to detect differences in vigor of pepper seed lots. Electrical conductivity test at 4 hours was more reliable for the classification of lots by vigor.
Telecommuting: a test of trust, competing values, and relative advantage

The advent of technologies that enable virtual work arrangements brings with it a challenge to managers: do they trust their employees to work outside of their presence? A perceived loss of control and a sense of being taken advantage of, may be experienced by a manager as employees disappear from the manager's daily gaze. To enable the transition of employees to virtual work arrangements, managers who work in bureaucratic organizations that value a high degree of control and stability may need to change their management style to accommodate new methods of employee communication and interaction. Alternately, corporate cultures well suited for the transition value results and are characterized as having the atmosphere of trust (a shared emotional understanding about who is to be trustee based on compatible values and open communications/attitudes). Telecommuting, as one form of virtual work arrangement, provides a prime opportunity to look into the management attitudes and corporate cultures that may hinder the transition of workers into remote settings. The study of telecommuting among information technology (IT) professionals suggests that management trust of employees, the ability to secure the technology involved, a rational culture, and a group culture, which emphasizes human resources and member participation, facilitate telecommuting implementation. Thus the study offers strong support for the important role of trust, security, and culture in the implementation of virtual work arrangements.
Nutrient stoichiometric relations and biogeochemical niche in coexisting plants species: effect of simulated climate change

Here we define a “biogeochemical niche” characterized by the species position in the multivariate space generated by its content not only of macronutrients like N, P or K, but also of micronutrients such as Mo, Mg and Ca, and trace toxic elements such as Pb and As. We then hypothesize that the flexibility of the species “biogeochemical niche” will influence the quality of plant tissue, which may have implications for herbivores, and will affect the species capacity to respond to disturbances and climate change and to adapt to the new climate conditions. We show with a simple multivariate procedure, a principal component analysis (PCA), first, that there is a strong differentiation in the total and relative (stoichiometry) content of the different elements in coexisting plant species, and, second, that there is species-specific plasticity in the response of this elemental composition to experimental climate change. The concentrations of foliar macro and micronutrients, as well as trace elements were measured in several tree species (Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and Arbutus unedo L. in a Mediterranean broad leaf forest (Prades Mts) and in shrub species (Erica multiflora L., Globularia alypum L. and Dorycnium pentaphyllum Scop.) in a Mediterranean shrubland (Garraf Mts) in control plants and in plants grown in experimental drought and warming plots. The climate conditions were monitored during the period 1999–2005. During this period, in the Prades experiment the drought plots had on average a soil moisture content 9% lower than the control plots, whereas in the Garraf experiment the drought treatment led to a mean reduction in soil moisture of 21% and the warming treatment to 0.9oC rise. The species with greater changes in biogeochemical niche under increased warming or drought, Arbutus unedo, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum, were those that were also more affected in growth, photosynthetic capacity and other eco-physiological traits. The species differentiations indicate a strong biogeochemical niche, and that the changes in biogeochemical niche are probably an underlying factor in community structure shifts.
Extraction and Assay of Ferulic Acid Esterase From Malted Barley

Ferulic acid esterase activity was detected in extracts of barley malt using an assay employing a novel artificial substrate, mono-feruloyl glycerol. Mono-feruloyl glycerol has been synthesized and analysed to determine its degree of substitution and purity. It consists of a mixture of the two isomers 1-feruloyl glycerol and 2-feruloyl glycerol. The extraction of ferulic acid esterase and its assay conditions have been optimised. The presence of both a detergent and reduced glutathione in the extraction medium increased the amount of enzyme extracted. A pH of 7.5 was optimal for enzyme activity. The enzyme in solution was only stable up to 30°C. The crude extract containing the enzyme released free ferulic acid from both soluble and insoluble cell wall materials. After extraction of the soluble enzyme, insoluble enzyme, capable of releasing free ferulic acid from feruloyl glycerol, was detected in the residual grain solids.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BACKPROPAGATION ALGORITHMS IN N EURAL N ETWORK BASED IDENTIFICATION OF POWER SYSTEM

This paper explores the application of artificial neural networksfor online identification of a multimachine power system. A recurrent neural networkhas been proposedas the identifier of the two area, four machine system which is a benchmark system for studying electromechanical oscillations in multimachine power systems. This neural identifier is trained using the static Backpropagation algorithm. The emphasis of the paper is on investigating the performance of the variants of the Backpropagation algorithm in training the neural identifier. The paper also compares the performances of the neural identifiers trained using variants of the Backpropagation algorithm over a wide range of operating conditions . The simulation results establish a satisfactory performance of the trained neural identifiers in identification of the test power system.
Effects of Ionic Strength and Denaturation Time on Polyethyleneglycol Self-Diffusion in Whey Protein Solutions and Gels Visualized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Pulsed field gradient NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) self-diffusion coefficient (DPEG) as a function of NaCl concentration (CNaCl) and denaturation time (tD) in whey protein solutions and gels. DPEG in the gel decreased with increasing CNaCl concentrations and increased with increasing tD; the increase ceased for all PEGs when the gel was fixed. This increase was more pronounced for the 82250 g/mol PEG than the 1080 g/mol PEG. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient of nonaggregated whey protein was measured and an increase for longer tD was also observed. Scanning electron microscopy images and 1H spectra demonstrated that DPEG were related to the structure changes and to the percentage of β-lactoglobulin denaturation. Keywords: Whey proteins; denaturation time; NMR; diffusion; ionic strength; SEM; gels
A wide-band low-noise monolithic transimpedance amplifier

A transimpedance amplifier with nominal 200-MHz bandwidth, 6.6-k/spl Omega/ gain, and 33-nA RMS-equivalent input noise current is described. The circuit is realized in silicon-bipolar-monolithic technology and functions with source capacitances ranging from zero to several picofarads.
Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of α-Glucosidase by trans-Resveratrol, Piceid, and a Novel trans-Stilbene from the Roots of Israeli Rumex bucephalophorus L.

The roots of Rumex bucephalophorus, collected in Israel, were analyzed for trans-stilbenes. Two stilbene-O-glycosyl derivatives were identified, in addition to 3,5,4‘-trihydroxystilbene (1) (resveratrol). The stilbene-O-glycosyl derivatives were 5,4‘-dihydroxystilbene-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) (piceid) and the new 5,4‘-dihydroxystilbene-3-O-α-arabinopyranoside (3), which is being named rumexoid. The structure of rumexoid was elucidated by using spectroscopic data. The antioxidant capacities of stilbenoids 1−3 were determined and expressed as trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). TEAC value for trans-resveratrol was highest (2.7) and for rumexoid lowest (1.5). In vitro, trans-resveratrol and rumexoid demonstrated a potent inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity (IC50 < 0.1 and < 0.5 mM, respectively). The commercial antidiabetic agent acarbose was shown to inhibit only 35% of the enzyme activity at 0.5 mM. The addition of piceid to the reaction mixture did not inhibit α-glucosidase in vitro .
Understanding Search-Based Software Engineering

Understanding Search-Based Software Engineering by Paul William ”Will” McBurney Master of Science in Computer Science West Virginia University Tim Menzies, Ph.D., Chair Pareto Optimization is a method of finding the space of best solutions possible given multiple class dimensions. In practice, however, it is difficult for users to visualize how solutions are spaced across this multi-dimensional frontier. Existing algorithms like NSGA-II are capable of quickly finding the Pareto frontier. However, users cannot use these algorithms to understand how changes to a solution effect the qualities of that solution. In response to these issues, this paper presents ”HOW”. Not only is ”HOW” capable of finding the Pareto frontier across multiple dimensions, but HOW can also explain how each point was derived, and compare points along the frontier to their neighbors. HOW generates rules using a stochastic learner, then combines those rules into a subsumption network via formal concept analysis. The network is augmented with statistics on the training data selected by sub-networks. Users can navigate their decision space by walking that network, selecting regions containing properties they want to avoid or encourage.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Phenome to Genome Analysis

Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) tools are an attractive starting point for disease target discovery. Genetic association evidence provides a strong link to disease phenotypes across diverse human DNAs. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Phenome-Genome Integrator tool (PheGenI) was used to identify genes associated with neurodegenerative disease phenotypes (NeuroGenes). Four hundred ninty-nine known proteins and 30 uncharacterized proteins were found to be associated with diverse neurological diseases including Alzeheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, multiple scelerosis, stroke and Parkinson’s. The NeuroGenes also were associated with other diseases and associated disorders. Using diverse bioinformatics and proteomics tools, an atlas of the NeuroGenes was created to facilitate rational biomarker and drug target discovery. NeuroGenes protein expression was detected in diverse body fluids. The NeuroGenes were categorized into functional classes of proteins using protein motif and domains analysis tools. Expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) analysis identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with mRNA expression across diverse sets of samples from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, brain infarction, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, stroke, mental retardation and neurological cancers. Thirty uncharacterized proteins encompassing structural protein, translation initiation factor, GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF), transmembrane proteins, tubulin/histonebinding and a lysosomal hydrolase were identified as putative proteins for dementia, Parkinson’s, neurobehavior, multiple scelerosis and ALS. These results may provide new biomarkers for neurological diseases.
Organization in the auditory sector of the cat's thalamic reticular nucleus

This study describes the organization of cells in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) that project to the auditory part of the cat's dorsal thalamus. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) and fluorescent dyes were made into the medial geniculate complex (MG). The resultant retrograde labelling in the TRN was analyzed. Injections of WGA‐HRP into the ventral (MGv), dorsal (MGd), or medial (MGm) nuclei of the MG label zones of cells that are restricted to a caudoventral sector of the TRN. In reconstructions, these zones resemble “slabs” that are elongated in the dorsoventral and oblique rostrocaudal dimensions of the nucleus. In comparisons of the zones of labelling in the TRN following tracer injections into different nuclei of the MG, inner and caudal cells project to the pars lateralis of the MGv (MGvl) or to the MGd, and outer and rostral cells project to the pars ovoidea of the MGv (MGvo) or to the MGm. Thus, cells projecting to the MGvl or MGd or to the MGvo or MGm occupy overlapping territories. Double injections of different fluorescent dyes into selected pairs of MG nuclei result in reticular cells that are labelled from either both nuclei or only one or the other nucleus in each pair. These results indicate that the projections of cells in the auditory sector of the TRN to the MGvl or MGvo or to the MGd or MGm are topographically organized. Furthermore, projections to more than one MG nucleus can arise from single reticular cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 390:167–182, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Base cation leaching from the canopy of a subtropical rainforest in northeastern Taiwan

We examined base cation leaching from the canopy of a subtropical rainforest in northeastern Taiwan. The forest is characterized by extremely low levels of base cations in both canopy vegetation and in the soils. The rates of canopy leaching of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were very high, representing up to 30, 35, and 190%, respectively, of the amount stored in leaves. The rate of H+ retention in the canopy was close to the rate of base cation leaching, suggesting that cation leaching is neutralizing acid precipitation. The subtropical forest studied leached cations from the canopy throughout the year, unlike temperate deciduous forests, which are physiologically inert in the winter. The forest canopy of the subtropical forest we studied is impacted by acid deposition and fog throughout the winter because of frequent rainfall and high relative humidity. This continuous exposure to acid precipitation could cause more intense negative effects on the canopy of subtropical forests as compared with temperate forests ex.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis induces IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production by THP-1 cells in a way different from that of Escherichia coli LPS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis has been shown to differ from enterobacterial LPS in structure and function; therefore, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways are accordingly different. To elucidate the signal transduction pathway of P. gingivalis, LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the human monocytic cell line THP-1 was measured by ELISA, and the TLRs were determined by the blocking test using anti-TLRs antibodies. In addition, specific inhibitors as well as Phospho-ELISA kits were used to analyze the intracellular signaling pathways. Escherichia coli LPS was used as the control. In this study, P. gingivalis LPS showed the ability to induce cytokine production in THP-1 cells and its induction was significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed by anti-TLR2 antibody or JNK inhibitor, and the phosphorylation level of JNK was significantly increased (P < 0.05). These results indicate that TLR2—JNK is the main signaling pathway of P. gingivalis LPS-induced cytokine production, while the cytokine induction by E. coli LPS was mainly via TLR4—NF-κB and TLR4—p38MAPK. This suggests that P. gingivalis LPS differs from E. coli LPS in its signaling pathway in THP-1 cells, and that the TLR2—JNK pathway might play a significant role in P. gingivalis LPS-induced chronic inflammatory periodontal disease.
Developments in the theory of social evolution

Theory developed for malaria and other protozoan parasites predicts that the evolutionarily stable gametocyte sex ratio (z*; proportion of gametocytes that are male) should be related to the inbreeding rate (f) by the equation z* = (1-f)/2. Although this equation has been applied with some success, it has been suggested that in some cases a less female biased sex ratio can be favoured to ensure female gametes are fertilised. Such fertility insurance can arise in response to two factors: (i) low numbers of gametes produced per gametocyte and (ii) the gametes of only a limited number of gametocytes being able to interact. However, previous theoretical studies have considered the influence of these two forms of fertility insurance separately. We use a stochastic analytical model to address this problem, and examine the consequences of when these two types of fertility insurance are allowed to occur simultaneously. Our results show that interactions between the two types of fertility insurance reduce the extent of female bias predicted in the sex ratio, suggesting that fertility insurance may be more important than has previously been assumed.
Job Embeddedness of Information Technology Professionals: The Effects of Gender

There is a growing need to meet the demand for information technology (IT) professionals at a time when supply is not only failing to keep pace with the growth in the IT sector, but also as IT workers are finding many opportunities to move from one job to another. It is imperative that organizations find ways to retain these valuable and skilled employees. One construct that has been introduced to measure reasons employees choose to stay in their current position is job embeddedness. This research explores the effect of gender on the dimensions of job embeddedness, including an employee's fit with the organization, potential sacrifice involved in leaving, and links to others in the organization. Using data collected from a survey of a large government agency, we found that there are significant differences between males and females in terms of job embeddedness.
Glutamate transport and metabolism in astrocytes

Glutamate uptake and metabolism was studied in cerebral cortical astrocytes. The expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLAST was found to be stimulated by extracellular glutamate through activation of kainate receptors on the astrocytes. Energy metabolism and ammonia homeostasis are two important aspects of glutamate handling in astrocytes. It is well known that glutamate transport into astrocytes and glutamine formation are energy consuming processes. Furthermore, ammonia is required for glutamine production. On the other hand, glutamate metabolism through the tricarboxylic acid cycle is an energy and ammonia producing pathway. In the present study it was shown that at an extracellular glutamate concentration of 0.5 mM, high energy phosphates were reduced, and more than 50% of the glutamate carbon skeleton entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle to yield products like lactate, aspartate, and additionally glutamate and glutamine derived from tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Entry into the cycle was not affected by the transaminase inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid, indicating that deamination is the major route for 2‐oxoglutarate formation from glutamate. Synthesis of glutamate from 2‐oxoglutarate, however, proceeded via transamination. In an earlier study it was shown that at glutamate concentrations at and below 0.2 mM, glutamine appears to be the major product and entry of glutamate into the tricarboxylic acid cycle is decreased 70% by aminooxyacetic acid. In an attempt to unify the above mentioned results, it is suggested that availability of ammonia and energy demands are major factors determining the metabolic fate of glutamate in astrocytes. GLIA 21:56–63, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.