Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Compact Single-Layer Dual-Band Microstrip Antenna for Satellite Applications

In this letter, a compact single-layer, single-feed, dual-frequency microstrip antenna with a high frequency ratio is proposed. This antenna has a broadside and symmetrical radiation patterns suitable for space-borne applications. The prototype was fabricated on a Rogers RT/duroid 5880 substrate with a relative permittivity of 2.2 and thickness of 1.58 mm. The dual-band behavior is achieved by a shorting pin at 1.7-1.706 and 8.011-8.277 GHz with the frequency ratio of 4.75. In addition, the antenna is miniaturized by 46% compared to the conventional rectangular patch.
Review of Stock Markets’ Reaction to New Events: Evidence from Brexit

Several studies have evolved to deal with the determinants of stock market volatility. However, there exists a gap in literature with regards to the interrelation among the broad categories of factors that trigger stock market reaction namely company fundaments, technical factors and market sentiments. This paper provides a holistic and comprehensive theoretical review of drivers of stock markets’ reaction as well as designs an interrelated conceptual framework of the factors that influence investors’ decision making to fill the gap in literature. Brexit is presented as a case study to illustrate how investors and stock markets are affected by new events or information. This study will reveal some of the global staggering effects of Brexit at the end of trading on June 24, 2016 in areas such as currencies, stock markets, banks, commodities, bonds, automakers and homebuilders as well as hedge fund. Barely 24 hours after the results of Brexit were declared; global stock markets lost about $2 trillion in value. The British pound plunged to almost $1.33, its lowest level in over 30 years against the US dollar and gold proved to be one of the few safe havens for investors on that day. In order for investors to insulate themselves against loses from Black Swans events, the conclusion of this study recommends some protective mechanisms for investors which include avoidance of overexposure and stockpiling of cash.
Combined therapy with methylprednisolone and ulinastatin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Background Our previous study had demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) had a neuroprotective effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methylprednisolone has been recommended to be a standard drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. The present study was to investigate the protective effects of UTI combined methylprednisolone in EAE. Methods Mice were divided into a UTI treatment group, a methylprednisolone treatment group, a combined treatment group with UTI and methylprednisolone, a normal saline treatment group, and a normal control group. EAE mice were induced in groups receiving different combined treatments, or respective monotherapies. Demyelination was evaluated by Solochrome cyanin staining. 2′,3′‐cyclic nucleotide 3′‐ phosphodiesterase (CNP)/ myelin basic protein (MBP)/ the precursor form of nerve growth factor (proNGF)/p75/ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins in cerebral cortex of EAE were detected by Western blotting. Results The combined treatment group had a lower clinical score ( 0.61±0.06) and demyelinating score (1.33±0.33) than the groups with normal saline (clinical score: 1.39±0.08, P <0.001; demyelinating score: 2.75±0.49, P <0.05) or monotheraphies. Compared with the saline treated EAE group, UTI combined methylprednisolone significantly increased expressions of CNP (1.14±0.06 vs. 0.65±0.04, P <0.001), MBP (1.28±0.14 vs. 0.44±0.17, P <0.001), and decreased expressions of proNGF (1.08±0.10 vs. 2.32±0.12, P <0.001), p75 (1.13±0.13 vs. 2.33±0.17, P <0.001), and iNOS (1.05±0.31 vs. 2.17±0.13, P <0.001) proteins in EAE. Furthermore, UTI combined methylprednisolone could significantly upregulate MBP (1.28±0.14 vs. 1.01±0.15, P <0.05) expression and downregulate iNOS (1.05±0.31 vs. 1.35±0.14, P <0.05) expression compared to methylprednisolone treatment EAE group. And proNGF expression was significantly lower in combined treatment (1.08±0.10) than that in UTI (1.51±0.24, P <0.05) or methylprednisolone (1.31±0.04, P <0.05) treatment group. Conclusion Combination treatment of UTI with methylprednisolone was shown to protect EAE, suggesting that combination therapy is a potential novel treatment in MS.
Speckle Tracking Echocardiography to Evaluate for Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), increasing morbidity and mortality. Current echocardiographic measures have poor predictive value for the diagnosis of PH in COPD. Right ventricular (RV) strain obtained by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a measure of myocardial deformation which correlates with RV function and survival in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We hypothesized that RV strain measurements would be feasible and correlate with invasive hemodynamic measurements in patients with COPD. Retrospective analysis of RV strain values from subjects with severe COPD with echocardiogram within 48 hours of right heart catheterization was performed. First, 54 subjects were included in the analysis. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and RV strain could be estimated in 31% and 57%, respectively. Then, 61% had RV-focused apical views, and of those, RV strain could be obtained for 94%. RV free wall strain correlated with PVR (r = 0.41, p = 0.02). Subjects with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 3 Wood units (WU) had less negative (worse) RV free wall strain values than those with PVR ≤ 3 WU, with a median strain of −20 (−23, −12) versus −23 (−29, −15), p < 0.05. A receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated an RV free wall strain of > −23 to be 92% sensitive and 44% specific for identifying PVR > 3 WU (AUC 0.71). RV strain estimates are feasible in the majority of subjects with severe COPD. RV strain correlates with PVR and may improve screening for PH in subjects with COPD.
Cellular dynamics of regeneration reveals role of two distinct Pax7 stem cell populations in larval zebrafish muscle repair

ABSTRACT Heterogeneity of stem cells or their niches is likely to influence tissue regeneration. Here we reveal stem/precursor cell diversity during wound repair in larval zebrafish somitic body muscle using time-lapse 3D confocal microscopy on reporter lines. Skeletal muscle with incision wounds rapidly regenerates both slow and fast muscle fibre types. A swift immune response is followed by an increase in cells at the wound site, many of which express the muscle stem cell marker Pax7. Pax7+ cells proliferate and then undergo terminal differentiation involving Myogenin accumulation and subsequent loss of Pax7 followed by elongation and fusion to repair fast muscle fibres. Analysis of pax7a and pax7b transgenic reporter fish reveals that cells expressing each of the duplicated pax7 genes are distinctly localised in uninjured larvae. Cells marked by pax7a only or by both pax7a and pax7b enter the wound rapidly and contribute to muscle wound repair, but each behaves differently. Low numbers of pax7a-only cells form nascent fibres. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that the more numerous pax7b-marked cells frequently fuse to pre-existing fibres, contributing more strongly than pax7a-only cells to repair of damaged fibres. pax7b-marked cells are more often present in rows of aligned cells that are observed to fuse into a single fibre, but more rarely contribute to nascent regenerated fibres. Ablation of a substantial portion of nitroreductase-expressing pax7b cells with metronidazole prior to wounding triggered rapid pax7a-only cell accumulation, but this neither inhibited nor augmented pax7a-only cell-derived myogenesis and thus altered the cellular repair dynamics during wound healing. Moreover, pax7a-only cells did not regenerate pax7b cells, suggesting a lineage distinction. We propose a modified founder cell and fusion-competent cell model in which pax7a-only cells initiate fibre formation and pax7b cells contribute to fibre growth. This newly discovered cellular complexity in muscle wound repair raises the possibility that distinct populations of myogenic cells contribute differentially to repair in other vertebrates. Summary: Tracking muscle precursor cells during wound repair with confocal time-lapse microscopy reveals that two myoblast populations fuse and contribute differentially to regeneration, one initiating and the other growing fibres.
Financial dollarization and exchange rate volatility in Ghana

This paper provides evidence on the effects of dollarization on the volatility of nominal and real Ghana cedi/U.S. dollar exchange rate for the period January 1990 to March 2015 using exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroske-dasticity (E-Garch) model. The results provide evidence of a positive impact of dollarization on the volatility of nominal bilateral GHS/USD exchange rates. This suggests that as the demand for U.S. dollars becomes more extensive, the cedi/dollar exchange rate becomes more volatile and unstable. The asymmetry parameter implies that a positive shock in the underlying error term has the same effect as a negative shock of the same magnitude on the volatility function of the bilateral exchange rates. Addressing the increasing dollarization of the Ghanaian economy would be an appropriate policy to stabilise the cedi.
Recombinant probiotics for treatment and prevention of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea.

BACKGROUND & AIMS We have developed a therapeutic strategy for gastrointestinal infections that is based on molecular mimicry of host receptors for bacterial toxins on the surface of harmless gut bacteria. The aim of this study was to apply this to the development of a recombinant probiotic for treatment and prevention of diarrheal disease caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains that produce heat-labile enterotoxin. METHODS This was achieved by expressing glycosyltransferase genes from Neisseria meningitidis or Campylobacter jejuni in a harmless Escherichia coli strain (CWG308), resulting in the production of a chimeric lipopolysaccharide capable of binding heat-labile enterotoxin with high avidity. RESULTS The strongest heat-labile enterotoxin binding was achieved with a construct (CWG308:pLNT) that expresses a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose, which neutralized > or = 93.8% of the heat-labile enterotoxin activity in culture lysates of diverse enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains of both human and porcine origin. When tested with purified heat-labile enterotoxin, it was capable of adsorbing approximately 5% of its own weight of toxin. Weaker toxin neutralization was achieved with a construct that mimicked the ganglioside GM2. Preabsorption with, or coadministration of, CWG308:pLNT also resulted in significant in vivo protection from heat-labile enterotoxin-induced fluid secretion in rabbit ligated ileal loops. CONCLUSIONS Toxin-binding probiotics such as those described here have considerable potential for prophylaxis and treatment of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced travelers' diarrhea.
Dynamic capabilities in automotive pollutants reduction technologies: case study

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyze the dynamic capabilities related to the generation of pollutant reduction techniques according with Teece’s proposition. In order to do so, we developed a case study in a Brazilian automaker. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: This paper discusses empirically aspects of creation of dynamic capabilities and innovations from its foundations. The originality of the study resides in a clearer understanding inside an organization the conception of dynamic capabilities and innovations through time. Key methodological aspects: In this paper, an automaker was studied, focusing on interviewers’ interpretations concerning on the creation of reduction of pollutants technologies. The data collected were qualitative and they were analyzed through the technique of content analysis. Summary of key results: As main results, we observed that Integration and development capabilities were found and they were characterized as dynamic capabilities in the sense that, they are all based in the automaker’s adaptation to its external environment. The path dependence of the automaker was also observed, through all the innovations that were created during the automaker’s history towards more efficient and less pollutant vehicles. Key considerations/conclusions: Summarizing, the automaker seeks to ‘perceive’ its dynamic capabilities from market’s actions, since the organization has an historical path and also its R&D capabilities. So on the seizing phase of the Dynamic Capabilities, the organization seeks to ‘create value’ to its customers. the analysis together with the interviews. As a suggestion for future studies, we suggest a longitudinal study in order to verify the construction of these dynamic capabilities in the long term. We also suggest studies with more than one automaker or between automaker and supplier to confront different visions in the innovative process.
Overexpression of TET dioxygenases in seminomas associates with low levels of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation

Germ cell tumors and particularly seminomas reflect the epigenomic features of their parental primordial germ cells (PGCs), including genomic DNA hypomethylation and expression of pluripotent cell markers. Because the DNA hypomethylation might be a result of TET dioxygenase activity, we examined expression of TET1‐3 enzymes and the level of their product, 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), in a panel of histologically characterized seminomas and non‐seminomatous germ cell tumors. Expression of TET dioxygenase mRNAs was quantified by real‐time PCR. TET1 expression and the level of 5hmC were examined immunohistochemically. Quantitative assessment of 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) and 5hmC levels was done by the liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy technique. We found highly increased expression of TET1 dioxygenase in most seminomas and strong TET1 staining in seminoma cells. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations were not detected, suggesting the enzymatic activity of TET1. The levels of 5mC and 5hmC in seminomas were found decreased in comparison to non‐seminomatous germ cell tumors and healthy testicular tissue. We propose that TET1 expression should be studied as a potential marker of seminomas and mixed germ cell tumors and we suggest that elevated expression of TET dioxygenase enzymes is associated with the maintenance of low DNA methylation levels in seminomas. This “anti‐methylator” phenotype of seminomas is in contrast to the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) observed in a fraction of tumors of various types.
Cross‐talk between Staphylococcus aureus leukocidins‐intoxicated macrophages and lung epithelial cells triggers chemokine secretion in an inflammasome‐dependent manner

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen responsible for both nosocomial and community‐acquired infections. Central to its virulence is its ability to secrete haemolysins, pore‐forming toxins and cytolytic peptides. The large number of membrane‐damaging toxins and peptides produced during S. aureus infections has hindered a precise understanding of their specific roles in diseases. Here, we used comprehensive libraries of recombinant toxins and synthetic cytolytic peptides, of S. aureus mutants and clinical strains to investigate the role of these virulence factors in targeting human macrophages and triggering IL‐1β release. We found that the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is the major trigger of IL‐1β release and inflammasome activation in primary human macrophages. The cytolytic peptides, δ‐haemolysin and PSMα3; the pore‐forming toxins, γ‐haemolysin and LukDE; and β‐haemolysin synergize with PVL to amplify IL‐1β release, indicating that these factors cooperate with PVL to trigger inflammation. PVL+S. aureus causes necrotizing pneumonia in children and young adults. The severity of this disease is due to the massive recruitment of neutrophils that cause lung damage. Importantly, we demonstrate that PVL triggers IL‐1β release in human alveolar macrophages. Furthermore, IL‐1β released by PVL‐intoxicated macrophages stimulates the secretion of the neutrophil attracting chemokines, IL‐8 and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, by lung epithelial cells. Finally, we show that PVL‐induced IL‐8/monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 release is abolished by the inclusion of IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra) in a mixed culture of lung epithelial cells and macrophages. Together, our results identify PVL as the predominant S. aureus secreted factor for triggering inflammasome activation in human macrophages and demonstrate how PVL‐intoxicated macrophages orchestrate inflammation in the lung. Finally, our work suggests that anakinra, a synthetic IL‐1Ra, may be an effective therapeutic agent to reduce the massive neutrophils infiltration observed during necrotizing pneumonia and decrease the resulting host‐mediated lung injury.
Identification of In Vivo Enzyme Activities in the Cometabolism of Glucose and Acetate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Using 13C-Labeled Substrates

ABSTRACT A detailed characterization of the central metabolic network of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CEN.PK 113-7D was carried out during cometabolism of different mixtures of glucose and acetate, using aerobic C-limited chemostats in which one of these two substrates was labeled with 13C. To confirm the role of malic enzyme, an isogenic strain with the corresponding gene deleted was grown under the same conditions. The labeling patterns of proteinogenic amino acids were analyzed and used to estimate metabolic fluxes and/or make inferences about the in vivo activities of enzymes of the central carbon metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. Malic enzyme flux increased linearly with increasing acetate fraction. During growth on a very-high-acetate fraction, the activity of malic enzyme satisfied the biosynthetic needs of pyruvate in the mitochondria, while in the cytosol pyruvate was supplied via pyruvate kinase. In several cases enzyme activities were unexpectedly detected, e.g., the glyoxylate shunt for a very-low-acetate fraction, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase for an acetate fraction of 0.46 C-mol of acetate/C-mol of substrate, and glucose catabolism to CO2 via the tricarboxylic acid cycle for a very-high-acetate fraction. Cytoplasmic alanine aminotransferase activity was detected, and evidence was found that α-isopropylmalate synthase has two active forms in vivo, one mitochondrial and the other a short cytoplasmic form.
In Vivo Residue-specific Histone Methylation Dynamics*

Methylation of specific histone residues is capable of both gene activation and silencing. Despite vast work on the function of methylation, most studies either present a static snapshot of methylation or fail to assign kinetic information to specific residues. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on a high-resolution mass spectrometer and heavy methyl-SILAC labeling, we studied site-specific histone lysine and arginine methylation dynamics. The detection of labeled intermediates within a methylation state revealed that mono-, di-, and trimethylated residues generally have progressively slower rates of formation. Furthermore, methylations associated with active genes have faster rates than methylations associated with silent genes. Finally, the presence of both an active and silencing mark on the same peptide results in a slower rate of methylation than the presence of either mark alone. Here we show that quantitative proteomic approaches such as this can determine the dynamics of multiple methylated residues, an understudied portion of histone biology.
Gelatin‐based hydrogel for vascular endothelial growth factor release in peripheral nerve tissue engineering

Hydrogels are promising materials in regenerative medicine applications, due to their hydrophilicity, biocompatibility and capacity to release drugs and growth factors in a controlled manner. In this study, biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels based on blends of natural polymers were used in in vitro and ex vivo experiments as a tool for VEGF‐controlled release to accelerate the nerve regeneration process. Among different candidates, the angiogenic factor VEGF was selected, since angiogenesis has been long recognized as an important and necessary step during tissue repair. Recent studies have pointed out that VEGF has a beneficial effect on motor neuron survival and Schwann cell vitality and proliferation. Moreover, VEGF administration can sustain and enhance the growth of regenerating peripheral nerve fibres. The hydrogel preparation process was optimized to allow functional incorporation of VEGF, while preventing its degradation and denaturation. VEGF release was quantified through ELISA assay, whereas released VEGF bioactivity was validated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in a Schwann cell line (RT4‐D6P2T) by assessing VEGFR‐2 and downstream effectors Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Moreover, dorsal root ganglia explants cultured on VEGF‐releasing hydrogels displayed increased neurite outgrowth, providing confirmation that released VEGF maintained its effect, as also confirmed in a tubulogenesis assay. In conclusion, a gelatin‐based hydrogel system for bioactive VEGF delivery was developed and characterized for its applicability in neural tissue engineering. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A role for gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factors, and soluble T-cell receptors in the depressed blastogenic response of spleen cells of Mycobacterium lepraemurium-infected mice

Spleen cells of Mycobacterium lepraemurium-infected mice were cultured on petri dishes coated with mycobacterial antigens, and antigen-reactive cells were isolated. Upon incubation in mitogen- or antigen-free culture medium, these cells released mediators capable of depressing the in vitro proliferative response of normal splenocytes to specific antigen and to concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. One of these mediators was identified with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), mainly on the basis that treatment of supernatants with monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibodies markedly reduced the suppressive activity contained therein. Detectable levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta were present in spleen cell culture supernatants of infected mice. Moreover, low doses of recombinant TNF-alpha and TNF-beta were found to potentiate the suppressive activity of exogenous IFN-gamma. Soluble T-cell receptors beta were also detected in the culture supernatants. The elimination of these molecules with monoclonal anti-T-cell receptor beta (F23.1) antibodies immobilized on a plastic surface partially reversed the depression of the response to mycobacterial antigen but did not affect the response to mitogens. These results revealed the complex nature of suppressor mediators that are produced by mycobacterial antigen-reactive cells and that regulate the in vitro proliferative response.