Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Lipids into Boar Sperm Decreases Chilling Sensitivity but Not Capacitation Potential1

Abstract Fresh boar sperm were incubated with small unilamellar liposomes composed of either the total lipids extracted from head plasma membranes (HPM) of fresh boar sperm or selected lipids (SL) of five defined phospholipids with specific acyl chains. To optimize fusion, liposomes with 2 mol% octadecyl rhodamine fluorophore in Beltsville Thawing Solution ± 1 mM CaCl2 were incubated at 35°C with 1 ;ts 107 or 108 spermatozoa/ml and monitored over 60 min, using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The HPM fused to both sperm concentrations faster than SL but was equivalent by 30 min (108 sperm/ml) or 60 min (107 sperm/ml; 57.5 ± 3% and 67.1 ± 8% sperm fused to HPM and SL, respectively) ± Ca2+. Neither HPM nor SL affected onset of capacitation or spontaneous or ionophore-induced acrosome reactions at 0 or 3 h (chlortetracycline and fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin; n = 3). During cooling and after cryopreservation (n = 4 ejaculates), SL but not HPM significantly improved sperm motility and viability (Sybr14/propidium iodide staining) ± 20% egg yolk, but egg yolk alone was more effective than SL alone. Liposomes of complex composition can fuse to boar sperm without harming in vitro capacitation or acrosome reaction and reduce sperm chilling sensitivity.
Optimal tradeoff between source and state distortions over a Gaussian channel using single and hybrid digital analog codes

In this paper, the problem of transmitting an analog Gaussian source over an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel in the presence of a Gaussian interference known only at the transmitter is investigated. Our goal is to estimate both the analog source and the channel state at the receiver simultaneously. In this work, we present different transmission schemes based on joint source-channel coding. We study hybrid digital-analog (HDA) joint source-channel coding schemes and analyze the region of (mean-squared error) distortion pairs (in estimating the source and the state) that are simultaneously achievable.
Percepción de estrés en universitarios, su impacto en el desempeño académico, afrontamiento y apoyo familiar

El estres es un factor psicosocial que se relaciona con la aparicion de enfermedades, donde los estudiantes son vulnerables. El estres academico, es definido como el impacto que produce el entorno situacional en el estudiante, siendo generadores de estres, las diversas actividades propias de su preparacion academica, pudiendo provocar resultados negativos en su salud, bienestar y/o rendimiento academico. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar la autopercepcion de estres en los estudiantes del area medica de las facultades de Enfermeria, Salud publica y Nutricion, Odontologia, Medicina y Psicologia de la Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, asi como los factores que lo generan e impactan en su desempeno academico, resaltando estrategias de afrontamiento como consecuencia del apoyo social recibido. Se realizo un estudio descriptivo, transversal, prospectivo, comparativo y observacional aprobado por el Comite de Bioetica de la Facultad de Odontologia (SPSI-010613, folio 0096). La muestra quedo conformada por 300 estudiantes, distribuidos en 60 participantes de cada facultad, elegidos al azar por conveniencia. Se aplico un instrumento compuesto de 56 reactivos en escala de Likert para las variables a estudio. Los alumnos de la Facultad de Enfermeria manifestaron una mayor percepcion de estres 80%, la Facultad de Psicologia arrojo el porcentaje de menor valor 33.33%. Los factores de estres relacionados al desempeno academico fueron; la falta de claridad al recibir instrucciones por los maestros 88%, cuando los profesores dan por hecho que el alumno tiene conocimientos que aun no ha adquirido 81.66% y cuando los resultados obtenidos de sus examenes no reflejan el trabajo y preparacion que han desarrollado 83.33%. Tener una actitud positiva, buscar consejos y ayuda, priorizar tareas, fueron situaciones principales seleccionadas para afrontar el estres. Fue posible concluir que el afrontamiento del estres se ve influenciado significativamente por el apoyo del entorno social de los estudiantes.
[Post-stroke depression treated with acupuncture and moxibustion: an evaluation of therapeutic effect and safety].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) by regulating the liver and strengthening the root prescription. METHODS In light of the random controlled trial principle, 123 cases were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (42 cases), a medication group (40 cases) and an acupuncture + medication group (41 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, the therapy of regulating the liver and strengthening the root was applied. Acupuncture was given at Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20, Yintang (GV 29), etc. The granule moxibustion was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment was given once a day and stopped in weekend. In the medication group, paroxetine hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 20 mg each day after breakfast. In the acupuncture + medication group, the therapies were adopted as the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the medication group. In the 2nd and 4th week of treatment, HAMD was used as the primary index and Barthel index as the secondary one for the efficacy assessment in the three groups respectively. The spleen and stomach syndrome scale of TCM was used for the assessment of TCM syndrome efficacy. Treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) was applied for the safety assessment. RESULTS In the 4th week of treatment, the markedly effective rates were 69.0% (29/42), 65.0% (26/40) and 70.7% (29/41) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group, the medication group and the acupuncture + medication group respectively. The efficacies of anti-depression were similar in comparison among groups (P > 0.05). In the 2nd week of treatment, the improvement of HAMD score was significant in the acupuncture + medication group as compared with that before treatment and in comparison with the medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As for improving Barthel index, reducing the spleen and stomach symptom score of TCM and decreasing the score of TESS, the results in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the acupuncture + medication group were superior to those in the medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion with regulating the liver and strengthening the root achieves the definite efficacy of anti-depression and presents the quite high safety in treatment.
Association of the Type of Toy Used During Play With the Quantity and Quality of Parent-Infant Communication.

IMPORTANCE The early language environment of a child influences language outcome, which in turn affects reading and academic success. It is unknown which types of everyday activities promote the best language environment for children. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the type of toy used during play is associated with the parent-infant communicative interaction. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Controlled experiment in a natural environment of parent-infant communication during play with 3 different toy sets. Participant recruitment and data collection were conducted between February 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. The volunteer sample included 26 parent-infant (aged 10-16 months) dyads. EXPOSURES Fifteen-minute in-home parent-infant play sessions with electronic toys, traditional toys, and books. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Numbers of adult words, child vocalizations, conversational turns, parent verbal responses to child utterances, and words produced by parents in 3 different semantic categories (content-specific words) per minute during play sessions. RESULTS Among the 26 parent-infant dyads, toy type was associated with all outcome measures. During play with electronic toys, there were fewer adult words (mean, 39.62; 95% CI, 33.36-45.65), fewer conversational turns (mean, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.12-2.19), fewer parental responses (mean, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.87-1.77), and fewer productions of content-specific words (mean, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.49-2.35) than during play with traditional toys or books. Children vocalized less during play with electronic toys (mean per minute, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.16-3.69) than during play with books (mean per minute, 3.91; 95% CI, 3.09-4.68). Parents produced fewer words during play with traditional toys (mean per minute, 55.56; 95% CI, 46.49-64.17) than during play with books (mean per minute, 66.89; 95% CI, 59.93-74.19) and use of content-specific words was lower during play with traditional toys (mean per minute, 4.09; 95% CI, 3.26-4.99) than during play with books (mean per minute, 6.96; 95% CI, 6.07-7.97). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Play with electronic toys is associated with decreased quantity and quality of language input compared with play with books or traditional toys. To promote early language development, play with electronic toys should be discouraged. Traditional toys may be a valuable alternative for parent-infant play time if book reading is not a preferred activity.
Culturing cells on the microscope stage.

Keeping live, healthy cells on the microscope is crucial for many types of experiments, in particular, fluorescence microscopy of dynamic processes. Although cultured cells may be observed for a short period of time without any special device, a culture system is usually necessary for observations which last for more than 10 minutes. Since the development of tissue culture techniques, many different approaches for this purpose have been taken. In this chapter, we will review the requirements which govern the design of microscope culture systems and discuss in detail several different systems, including one designed and used successfully in this laboratory. We will, however, not describe simple chambers for short-term maintenance of living cells (see, e.g., McNeil, Chapter 10; Chen, Chapter 7; and Swanson, Chapter 9, this volume, for several designs of simple observation chambers).
Arthropod defensins illuminate the divergence of scorpion neurotoxins

Defensins are phylogenetically ancient antibacterial polypeptides found in plants and animals. Isolation of the cDNA and genomic sequences encoding the scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus) defensin revealed similarity to scorpion neurotoxins in gene organization (two exons and a phase I intron) and intron characteristics (conserved acceptor, donor and putative branch sites). This commonality, alongside a similar core structure, protein sequence and bioactivity suggest that arthropod defensins and scorpion neurotoxins share a common ancestor. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis of defensins and scorpion neurotoxins illuminates for the first time a putative evolutionary trajectory for scorpion sodium and potassium channel neurotoxins. Copyright © 2004 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deletion of Phe508 in the first nucleotide‐binding domain of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator increases its affinity for the heat shock cognate 70 chaperone

The primary cause of cystic fibrosis (CF), the most frequent fatal genetic disease in Caucasians, is deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (F508del), located in the first nucleotide‐binding domain (NBD1) of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. F508del‐CFTR is recognized by the endoplasmic reticulum quality control (ERQC), which targets it for proteasomal degradation, preventing this misfolded but partially functional Cl− channel from reaching the cell membrane. We recently proposed that the ERQC proceeds along several checkpoints, the first of which, utilizing the chaperone heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70), is the major one directing F508del‐CFTR for proteolysis. Therefore, a detailed characterization of the interaction occurring between F508del‐CFTR and Hsc70 is critical to clarify the mechanism that senses misfolded F508del‐CFTR in vivo. Here, we determined by surface plasmon resonance that: (a) F508del‐murine (m)NBD1 binds Hsc70 with higher affinity (KD, 2.6 nm) than wild‐type (wt) mNBD1 (13.9 nm); (b) ATP and ADP dramatically reduce NBD1–Hsc70 binding; (c) the F508del mutation increases by approximately six‐fold the ATP concentration required to inhibit the NBD1–Hsc70 interaction (IC50; wt‐mNBD1, 19.7 μm ATP); and (d) the small molecule CFTR corrector 4a (C4a), but not VRT‐325 (V325; both rescuing F508del‐CFTR traffic), significantly reduces F508del‐mNBD1 binding to Hsc70, by ∼ 30%. Altogether, these results provide a novel, robust quantitative characterization of Hsc70–NBD1 binding, bringing detailed insights into the molecular basis of CF. Moreover, we show how this surface plasmon resonance assay helps to elucidate the mechanism of action of small corrective molecules, demonstrating its potential to validate additional therapeutic compounds for CF.
Analysis of multipoint transmission at higher frequencies using 3‐D ray tracing

The target of this article is to analyze the impact of multipoint transmission e.g. joint transmission (JT) in an outdoor microcellular environment at 15 and 28 GHz frequency through simulations. The impact of the JT threshold i.e. the threshold for switching between the single and multipoint transmission mode is also analyzed in this article. For this research activity, a “sAGA” MATLAB based 3‐D ray tracing tool is used for the simulation purpose. The received signal power and throughput are used as a performance metrics for the analysis. The simulation results show that the JT from two transmission ports provides up to 12.46% and 17.78% of relative throughput gain with respect to the transmission from single port at 15 and 28 GHz, respectively. The multipoint transmission with certain decibels (dBs) of JT threshold is found to be more efficient compared with the undefined JT threshold. In the light of simulation results, the JT is found as a promising technique for compensating the propagation loss at higher frequencies, and especially in a critical handover region the multipoint transmission helps in making a smooth handover.
Therapeutics , Targets , and Chemical Biology Effect of ON 01910 . Na , an Anticancer Mitotic Inhibitor , on Cell-Cycle Progression Correlates with RanGAP 1 Hyperphosphorylation

The benzyl styryl sulfone, ON 01910.Na, is a novel anticancer agent that inhibits mitotic progression and induces apoptosis in most cancer cell lines. We examined the effect of ON 01910.Na on DNA damage– signaling molecules upstream of Cdc25C (Chk1, Chk2, and H2AX), as well as on Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 conjugated to small ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (RanGAP1 SUMO1), a mitosis coordinator. Prostate cancer, lymphoma, and leukemic cells were incubated with the drug for 4, 16, or 24 hours. Cell lysates were resolved on SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Western blot. Camptothecin and doxorubicin treatment caused activation/phosphorylation of DNA damage-responsive molecules by 4 hours, whereas ON 01910.Na did not do so. ON 01910.Na caused hyperphosphorylation of RanGAP1 SUMO1 within 4 hours that was sustained for more than 24 hours. Mild phosphorylation of Chk2 was observed only after 24-hour exposure, indicating that DNA damage response was not an initial effect of ON 01910.Na. MOLT-3 cells, synchronized by double-thymidine block, when released into a medium containing ON 01910.Na, accumulated mitotic cell number with a peak from 10 to 14 hours and remained near plateau for 20 hours, which corresponded with the time of RanGAP phosphorylation. ON 01910.Na had minimal effects on tubulin polymerization. These findings imply that ON 01910.Na neither induces DNA damage directly nor acts as a tubulin toxin. Its biological activity appears to rely on prolonged phosphorylation/hyperphosphorylation of RanGAP1 SUMO1. M-phase arrest and the consequent induction of apoptosis that follows could possibly be attributed to it. ON 01910.Na may act as an inhibitor of a RanGAP1 SUMO1 phosphatase or a stimulant of a new kinase. RanGAP1 SUMO1 appears to be a new target pathway for cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Res; 71(14); 1–9. 2011 AACR.
The effect of hyperosmotic pressure on antibody production and gene expression in the GS‐NS0 cell line

It has been widely reported that metabolism, cell growth, cell density, product secretion and specific antibody productivity in mammalian cells are strongly affected by osmotic conditions. Previous studies have shown that hyperosmotic pressure suppresses cell growth while enhancing the productivity of individual cells, but the effect of these two changes does not result in an increase in final product concentration in the culture. An improved understanding of the basic cellular processes of a GS‐NS0 mammalian cell culture system would assist in the design of a more efficient mammalian cell culture system and in further optimization of production processes. In this study, various properties of mammalian culture systems, such as productivity, cell viability, metabolism, ion balance and the genes regulated during the culture of the GS‐NS0 system under osmotic pressure of iso‐ (290 mOsm/kg) and hyper‐ (450 mOsm/kg) osmolarity have been investigated, and we demonstrate that there is a decrease in the growth rate and an increase in specific production rate of hyperosmotic cultures as compared with iso‐osmotic cultures. Furthermore, differences between iso‐ and hyper‐osmotic cultures have been identified in calcium accumulation and metabolism of NH4+, glucose and lactate. Analysis of gene expression reveals regulation of over 600 genes that are implicated in processes known to be affected by changes in osmotic pressure, such as ion transport, accumulation of osmolytes, cell cycle distribution, proliferation, cytoskeletal organization and cell metabolism.
Multi-Party High-Dimensional Data Publishing Under Differential Privacy

In this paper, we study the problem of publishing high-dimensional data in a distributed multi-party environment under differential privacy. In particular, with the assistance of a semi-trusted curator, the parties (i.e., local data owners) collectively generate a synthetic integrated dataset while satisfying <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi>ɛ</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="cheng-ieq1-2906610.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>-differential privacy. To solve this problem, we present a differentially private sequential update of Bayesian network (DP-SUBN) approach. In DP-SUBN, the parties and the curator collaboratively identify the Bayesian network <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbb {N}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">N</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="cheng-ieq2-2906610.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> that best fits the integrated dataset in a sequential manner, from which a synthetic dataset can then be generated. The fundamental advantage of adopting the sequential update manner is that the parties can treat the intermediate results provided by previous parties as their prior knowledge to direct how to learn <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbb {N}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">N</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="cheng-ieq3-2906610.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>. The core of DP-SUBN is the construction of the search frontier, which can be seen as a priori knowledge to guide the parties to update <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbb {N}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">N</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="cheng-ieq4-2906610.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>. By exploiting the correlations of attribute pairs, we propose exact and heuristic methods to construct the search frontier. In particular, to privately quantify the correlations of attribute pairs without introducing too much noise, we first put forward a non-overlapping covering design (NOCD) method, and then devise a dynamic programming method for determining the optimal parameters used in NOCD. Through privacy analysis, we show that DP-SUBN satisfies <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi>ɛ</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="cheng-ieq5-2906610.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>-differential privacy. Extensive experiments on real datasets demonstrate that DP-SUBN offers desirable data utility with low communication cost.
Indomethacin Causes Prostaglandin D2-like and Eotaxin-like Selective Responses in Eosinophils and Basophils*

We investigated the actions of a panel of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, and monocytes. Indomethacin alone was a potent and selective inducer of eosinophil and basophil shape change. In eosinophils, indomethacin induced chemotaxis, CD11b up-regulation, respiratory burst, and L-selectin shedding but did not cause up-regulation of CD63 expression. Pretreatment of eosinophils with indomethacin also enhanced subsequent eosinophil shape change induced by eotaxin, although treatment with higher concentrations of indomethacin resulted in a decrease in the expression of the major eosinophil chemokine receptor, CCR3. Indomethacin activities and cell selectivity closely resembled those of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Eosinophil shape change in response to eotaxin was inhibited by pertussis toxin, but indomethacin- and PGD2-induced shape change responses were not. Treatment of eosinophils with specific inhibitors of phospholipase C (U-73122), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (LY-294002), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (SB-202190) revealed roles for these pathways in indomethacin signaling. Indomethacin and its analogues may therefore provide a structural basis from which selective PGD2receptor small molecule antagonists may be designed and which may have utility in the treatment of allergic inflammatory disease.
Longitudinally detected ESR magnetometer for wide-range measurements of low fields.

A new magnetometer utilizing a longitudinally detected ESR (LODESR) method was developed. The probe head of the LODESR magnetometer is equipped with a single-turn coil (8 mm in diameter) which has a very wide bandwidth because the reactance of the coil is always smaller than the resistance of the transmission line (50 ohm) at frequencies less than 700 MHz. Thus, an absolute magnetic field could be measured over a wide range (2 to 9 mT) using this magnetometer without changing the probe head.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Inhibits Apoptosis and Promotes Cytoskeleton Rearrangement for Infection of Tick Cells

ABSTRACT Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Infection with this zoonotic pathogen affects gene expression in both the vertebrate host and the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. Here, we identified new genes, including spectrin alpha chain or alpha-fodrin (CG8) and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel or mitochondrial porin (T2), that are involved in A. phagocytophilum infection/multiplication and the tick cell response to infection. The pathogen downregulated the expression of CG8 in tick salivary glands and T2 in both the gut and salivary glands to inhibit apoptosis as a mechanism to subvert host cell defenses and increase infection. In the gut, the tick response to infection through CG8 upregulation was used by the pathogen to increase infection due to the cytoskeleton rearrangement that is required for pathogen infection. These results increase our understanding of the role of tick genes during A. phagocytophilum infection and multiplication and demonstrate that the pathogen uses similar strategies to establish infection in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.