Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L‐arginine induces dopamine release from the striatum in vivo

Recent reports indicate that induction of nitric oxide (NO) evokes dopamine (DA) release from the striatum in vitro. In this study, we used L-arginine (L-Arg) to demonstrate the in vivo stimulation of DA release from the striatum of Mongolian gerbils using microdialysis. The content of DA in the striatal extracellular fluid (ECF) increased 7–15-fold in the presence of L-Arg in the perfusate as compared with that of the controls (DA level in drug-free perfusate varied from 0.050 ± 0.009 to 0.092 ± 0.023 pmol 10 μUl−1). Simultaneous perfusion of L-Arg with nitro-L-arginine (NLA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, markedly reduced the L-Arg effect on DA release from the striatum. The NLA-perfused animals contained DA levels significantly lower than those observed in the control striatal dialysate. These findings indicate for the first time that DA release in vivo can be induced by L-Arg, the precursor of NO. The data strongly suggest that NO may modulate striatal DA release.
Differential privacy data publishing method based on cell merging

With the emergence and rapid development of the application requirements of data publishing and data mining, how to protect the privacy data and prevent sensitive information leakage has become a great challenge. As a new privacy protection framework, differential privacy can provide privacy protection to the data. But the uniform grid method based on differential privacy has not considered the density and the sparsity of the data distribution, query deviation is too large. Therefore, this paper proposes a differential privacy data publishing method based on cell merging. To solve the problem of sparse data density and better balance noise deviation and uniform assumptions deviation, the paper gives the corresponding data partition algorithm, data merging algorithm. The accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm are compared with the uniform grid method and the adaptive grids approach algorithms, and the results show that it can keep the data validity and reduce the deviation of the query, at the same time,it has the higher accuracy and efficiency.
Exposure of human lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cells to simulated microgravity strongly affects energy metabolism and DNA repair

Exposure of freshly drawn lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cells (LB and COR3) to simulated microgravity decreased the intracellular ATP concentration to 50%–40% of the value found in normal growth conditions. The decrease was reversible although recovery to normal values occurred only slowly both in lymphocytes and in lymphoblastoid cells. Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP ) activity was increased indicating that cells exposed to conditions of reduced gravitation experience stress. Exposure to microgravity forces cells into a condition of metabolic quiescence in which they appear to be particularly sensitive to subsequent exposures to a genotoxic agent. Thus, treatment of cells with the strong redox agent potassium bromate under microgravity conditions, indicated an impairment in repair of DNA 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), an oxidized derivative of deoxyguanosine. We conclude that gravitational modulation of the kind routinely obtained under laboratory conditions and during spaceflights is a stressful process to which cells appear to be extremely sensitive. These effects may reflect the physiological alterations observed in astronauts and in animals following spaceflights or exposure to conditions of simulated microgravity. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatic stellate cell–derived platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐alpha‐enriched extracellular vesicles promote liver fibrosis in mice through SHP2

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the activation and migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), followed by matrix deposition. Recently, several studies have shown the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from liver cells, such as hepatocytes and endothelial cells, in liver pathobiology. While most of the studies describe how liver cells modulate HSC behavior, an important gap exists in the understanding of HSC‐derived signals and more specifically HSC‐derived EVs in liver fibrosis. Here, we investigated the molecules released through HSC‐derived EVs, the mechanism of their release, and the role of these EVs in fibrosis. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor‐alpha (PDGFRα) was enriched in EVs derived from PDGF‐BB‐treated HSCs. Moreover, patients with liver fibrosis had increased PDGFRα levels in serum EVs compared to healthy individuals. Mechanistically, in vitro tyrosine720‐to‐phenylalanine mutation on the PDGFRα sequence abolished enrichment of PDGFRα in EVs and redirected the receptor toward degradation. Congruently, the inhibition of Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase 2, the regulatory binding partner of phosphorylated tyrosine720, also inhibited PDGFRα enrichment in EVs. EVs derived from PDGFRα‐overexpressing cells promoted in vitro HSC migration and in vivo liver fibrosis. Finally, administration of Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase 2inhibitor, SHP099, to carbon tetrachloride–administered mice inhibited PDGFRα enrichment in serum EVs and reduced liver fibrosis. Conclusion: PDGFRα is enriched in EVs derived from PDGF‐BB‐treated HSCs in an Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase 2–dependent manner and these PDGFRα‐enriched EVs participate in development of liver fibrosis. (Hepatology 2018;68:333‐348).
Direct and Indirect Impairment of Human Dendritic Cell Function by Virulent Francisella tularensis Schu S4

ABSTRACT The gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis causes acute, lethal pneumonic disease following infection with only 10 CFU. The mechanisms used by the bacterium to accomplish this in humans are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that virulent, type A F. tularensis strain Schu S4 efficiently infects and replicates in human myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). Despite exponential replication over time, Schu S4 failed to stimulate transforming growth factor β, interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha, alpha interferon (IFN-α), and IFN-β throughout the course of infection. Schu S4 also suppressed the ability of directly infected DCs to respond to different Toll-like receptor agonists. Furthermore, we also observed functional inhibition of uninfected bystander cells. This inhibition was mediated, in part, by a heat-stable bacterial component. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Schu S4 was present in Schu S4-conditioned medium. However, Schu S4 LPS was weakly inflammatory and failed to induce suppression of DCs at concentrations below 10 μg/ml, and depletion of Schu S4 LPS did not significantly alleviate the inhibitory effect of Schu S4-conditioned medium in uninfected human DCs. Together, these data show that type A F. tularensis interferes with the ability of a central cell type of the immune system, DCs, to alert the host of infection both intra- and extracellularly. This suggests that immune dysregulation by F. tularensis operates on a broader and more comprehensive scale than previously appreciated.
Hetereogeneity of dose and time effects of estrogen on neuron‐specific neuronal protein and phosphorylated cyclic AMP response element‐binding protein in the hippocampus of ovariectomized rats

Previous studies have shown changes in the cyclic AMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in CA1 and CA3 regions of the rostral hippocampus with 10 μg estrogen treatment for 14 days. It appears that estrogen's action on CREB phosphorylation in brain structures depends on other estrogen doses and lengths of treatment. We therefore examined the effects of moderate regimens [2.5 μg estradiol benzoate (EB) for 4 or 14 days] on mean numbers of neuron‐specific neuronal protein (NeuN)‐positive cells and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB)‐positive cells and subregion volume defined by NeuN and pCREB immunolabeling and compared those results with results from the high regimen (10 μg EB for 14 days) in CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions and dorsal (DDG) and ventral (VDG) dentate gyrus and hilus of the hippocampus of ovariectomized rats by stereology. For whole hippocampus, all regimens increased mean neuronal (NeuN) numbers and pCREB‐positive cell and volume compared with sesame oil (SO) in CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions, DDG and VDG, and hilus. In rostral hippocampus, however, some hippocampal subregions were not responsive to the high regimen, and the moderate regimens appear to be more effective for increasing mean number of NeuN‐positive neurons and pCREB‐positive cells and subregion volume. Heterogeneity in responsiveness to estrogen was mainly seen within rostral, but not whole, hippocampal subregions. Our results indicate that responsiveness of cells expressing NeuN and pCREB to different EB regimens may vary depending on the specific region of the hippocampus. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Essays on choice under uncertainty and framing effects in marketing

In case of preference uncertainty, choice-sets and promotions framing can influence purchase decisions (Campbell and Diamond 1990; Levin et al. 1998; Simonson 1989). In this dissertation, I extend the investigation of framing effects from their influence on decision-making to their influence on post-purchase behavior. In particular, I show that people might show opposite preferences for equally valued but differently framed promotions (chapter two) on subscriptions extensions or might increase choices of items that can complement and enhance a first average choice (chapter three). Accordingly, the two scientific essays embedded in this dissertation represent an attempt to integrate choice under uncertainty (in present and future states) and framing/ context effects.
Controllable Metamaterial-Loaded Waveguides Supporting Backward and Forward Waves

Rectangular waveguides loaded by anisotropic metamaterials are analyzed to assess the controllability of transmission characteristics of the involved electromagnetic waves. Dispersion relations of TEm0 modes in the metamaterial-loaded waveguide (MLW) are theoretically investigated. It is shown that all propagating modes (the forward wave, the backward wave and the evanescent wave) in the MLW can be realized below the cut-off frequency by changing transverse and longitudinal components of permeability tensors of the loading metamaterials. Numerical simulations are carried out to verify the proposed theory and the controllability. Transmission characteristics and effective constitutive parameters of three MLWs with different cells, which should theoretically support forward waves, backward waves and evanescent waves, respectively, are numerically calculated. Dispersion curves and magnetic field distribution for the backward wave MLW and the forward wave MLW are simulated. It is shown that the simulated results are in a good agreement with theoretical predictions. Implementation of the controllable MLW was achieved by using axially rotating control rods. Rotating the control rods can reconfigure the metamaterial and make propagating modes in the MLW switch from backward waves to forward waves or evanescent waves.
The Concentration of the Banking Industry and Its Exposure to Financial Contagion

This paper focuses on the effects that the concentration of the banking industry has on its exposure to the risk of systemic crises due to direct, balance-sheet financial contagion. Studying three stylized (and analytically tractable) classes of interbank networks – namely the complete, star and ring networks – we show that the magnitude of the smallest insolvency shock that is capable of causing the default of all banks in the system depends on the degree of concentration of the industry. Concerning complete and ring interbank networks, we obtain that the more concentrated the banking system is, the smaller the magnitude of the shock that induces the insolvency of the entire system. That is, concentration renders the banking system more fragile. Conversely, we show that the opposite applies to star interbank networks – i.e. networks composed of a bank at the centre connected to a set of peripheral banks that are not connected among themselves. In this case, the more concentrated the industry, the larger the smallest shock that causes a systemic crisis, i.e. the smaller the exposure to systemic risk.
Test Questions, Economic Outcomes, and Inequality

Standard achievement scales aggregate test questions without considering their relationship to economic outcomes. This paper uses question-level data to improve the measurement of achievement in two ways. First, the paper constructs alternative achievement scales by relating individual questions directly to school completion and labor market outcomes. Second, the paper leverages the question data to construct multiple such scales in order to correct for biases stemming from measurement error. These new achievement scales rank students differently than standard scales and typically yield achievement gaps by race, gender, and household income that are larger by 0.1 to 0.5 standard deviations. Differential performance on test questions can fully explain black-white differences in both wages and lifetime earnings and can explain roughly half of the difference in these outcomes between youth from high- versus low-income households. By contrast, test questions do not explain gender differences in labor market outcomes.
Myocardial triglyceride content and epicardial fat mass in human obesity: relationship to left ventricular function and serum free fatty acid levels.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Ectopic fat accumulation within and around the myocardial wall has been implicated in the pathogenesis of heart disease in obesity. We evaluated myocardial and epicardial fat, left ventricular (LV) function, and metabolic risk factors in nine (five lean, four moderately obese) men. METHODS Myocardial fat percent was quantified in the septum by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Reproducibility was assessed by triplicate systolic and diastolic measurements. LV parameters and epicardial fat were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Waist-to-hip ratio and liver enzymes (alanine transaminase) were used as surrogate markers of visceral and liver fat contents. RESULTS Myocardial fat (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.1, P = 0.03) and epicardial fat (120 +/- 33 vs. 55 +/- 12 g, P = 0.08) were higher in obese than lean subjects. Individuals with above-median alanine transaminase values had a 4-fold elevation in myocardial fat. The coefficient of variation of repeated myocardial fat percent determinations was 17 +/- 3 and 23 +/- 3% in systole and diastole, respectively. Myocardial fat was correlated with free fatty acid (FFA) levels (r = 0.76; P = 0.017), epicardial fat (r = 0.69; P = 0.042), and waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.70; P = 0.035), and it showed a tendency to associate positively with LV work. Epicardial fat was associated with peripheral vascular resistance (positively) and the cardiac index (negatively). FFA levels were significantly correlated with LV mass (r = 0.72; P = 0.030) and forward work (r = 0.74; P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The accumulation of triglyceride in and around the myocardium of moderately obese individuals is significant, and it is related to FFA exposure, generalized ectopic fat excess, and peripheral vascular resistance. These changes precede LV overload and hypertrophy.
The nature and importance of the inter‐ε chain disulfide bonds in human IgE

IgE antibodies are best known for their pathological role in allergy. The class‐specific effector sites are located in the ε chains; these form covalent dimers via two cystine residues (Cys241 and Cys328) linking opposite Cε2 domains. The nature and biological significance of the inter‐ε chain disulfide‐bond arrangement is unresolved. For structural and functional analysis site‐specific mutations were introduced into the Cε2 domain of recombinant human IgE. The introduction of an additional cyanogen bromide cleavage site (His246 → Met) facilitated the identification of parallel disulfide bond pairing. This linkage was also confirmed for myeloma IgE PS by sequence determination of disulfide‐linked C2 dimers. Substitution of Cys241 and Cys328 by Ser does not destroy receptor binding, but reductive alkylation, or the replacement of Cys328 by Met, leads to loss of activity. This shows that covalent dimerization is not essential for IgE/receptor interaction and points to the importance of the structural integrity of the site surrounding Cys328, visualized in a new model of human Fcε.
Flicker-evoked responses of human optic nerve head blood flow: luminance versus chromatic modulation.

PURPOSE To determine the response of human optic nerve head blood flow (R:F(onh)) to heterochromatic equiluminant flicker modulation and compare it to the response induced by pure luminance flicker. METHODS In five normal volunteers, F(onh) measured at the neuroretinal rim was monitored continuously by laser Doppler flowmetry. Stimuli were generated by green and red light emitting diodes and delivered to the fundus in Maxwellian view (field of 25(o)). Both green (G:) and red (R:) illuminances were square-wave modulated, 180(o) out of phase, with a maximum value of 10.4 for G: and 2.64 lux for R: Flicker frequency was varied from 2 Hz to 40 Hz. R:F(onh) was defined as the change in F(onh) during stimulation relative to the prestimulus F(onh). RESULTS Defining the color ratio r as R:/(R: + G:), the R:F(onh), measured for a 15-Hz flicker, was largest at pure luminance (r = 0 and 1), declined at mixed luminance and chromatic modulations, and reached a secondary maximum at r = 0.45, the value of psychophysical equiluminance. R:F(onh) versus flicker frequency displayed the characteristics of a low-pass function for the equiluminance flicker stimulus and of a band-pass function, with a maximum at intermediate frequencies, for the luminance flicker stimulus. CONCLUSIONS R:F(onh) in humans can be evoked by heterochromatic flicker, modulated either in luminance or chromatic equiluminant conditions. R:F(onh) may be specific for luminance and chromatic modulations, similar to neural responses dominated by the magno- and parvocellular activity, respectively. These findings offer a new approach to study the neurovascular coupling at the optic nerve head in both physiological and diseased conditions involving predominantly or selectively the magno- and parvocellular pathways.
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in the ethylene response

Significance Upon receipt of different cues, transcription factors bind to specific DNA sequences to recruit the general transcriptional machinery for gene expression. Chromatin modification plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression by providing transcription factors and the transcription machinery with dynamic access to an otherwise tightly packaged genome. We use Arabidopsis to study how chromatin perceives ethylene signaling, an important plant hormone in plant growth, development, and stress responses. We demonstrate that the essential factor EIN2, which mediates ethylene signaling from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus, directly regulates histone acetylation through an interaction with a histone-binding protein. This study reveals the novel mechanism of how chromatin perceives the hormone signals to integrate into gene regulation. Ethylene gas is essential for developmental processes and stress responses in plants. Although the membrane-bound protein EIN2 is critical for ethylene signaling, the mechanism by which the ethylene signal is transduced remains largely unknown. Here we show the levels of H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac are correlated with the levels of EIN2 protein and demonstrate EIN2 C terminus (EIN2-C) is sufficient to rescue the levels of H3K14/23Ac of ein2-5 at the target loci, using CRISPR/dCas9-EIN2-C. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) and ChIP-reChIP-seq analyses revealed that EIN2-C associates with histone partially through an interaction with EIN2 nuclear-associated protein1 (ENAP1), which preferentially binds to the genome regions that are associated with actively expressed genes both with and without ethylene treatments. Specifically, in the presence of ethylene, ENAP1-binding regions are more accessible upon the interaction with EIN2, and more EIN3 proteins bind to the loci where ENAP1 is enriched for a quick response. Together, these results reveal EIN2-C is the key factor regulating H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac in response to ethylene and uncover a unique mechanism by which ENAP1 interacts with chromatin, potentially preserving the open chromatin regions in the absence of ethylene; in the presence of ethylene, EIN2 interacts with ENAP1, elevating the levels of H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac, promoting more EIN3 binding to the targets shared with ENAP1 and resulting in a rapid transcriptional regulation.
Sequence of a cellulase gene of the thermophilic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum

The nucleotide sequence of the celA gene, encoding the extracellular endoglucanase A of Clostridium thermocellum, was determined and compared with the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme. The mature protein appeared to be extended by a signal sequence of 32 amino acids. A segment of 23 amino acids was duplicated at the COOH-terminal end of the protein. The putative GUG initiation codon was preceded by an AGGAGG sequence, typical of procaryotic ribosomal binding sites. The segment of DNA presumably specifying transcriptional initiation contained a high percentage of adenine and thymine residues, including an adenine-thymine tract extending over 54 base pairs.
Integrated Management Approach Towards Sustainability: An Egyptian Business Case Study

Several studies have focused mainly on the following approach to tackle sustainable development issues at the management level: single sustainability managerial tools adoption (e.g., sustainable balance scorecard) and the “overlap” process between traditional management practices and sustainability-oriented ones. Conversely, integration as an “alignment” process between different sustainability management practices represents a research field, which is currently underinvestigated. Filling this gap, the purpose of the present study is to deepen and find empirical evidence on how sustainability management accounting, control, and reporting systems can be integrated through an alignment process. To this aim, we focused our analysis on a Mediterranean holding company, which is a well-known sustainable corporate practitioner to foster sustainable development in a socioeconomic and environmental problematic context. Therefore, we developed a single business case study analyzing an Egyptian firm to give practical evidence on the role of management accounting, control, and reporting practices in addressing sustainability issues. The analysis shows that the aligning process of different management practices involves a plurality of business aspects to manage, among them cultural and organizational ones. Despite its complexity, such a process is fundamental to pursue medium–long-term goals, ensuring sustainable firm growth and social wellbeing.