Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective inhibition of receptor-coupled phospholipase C-dependent processes in human platelets and polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Aggregation of human platelets induced by a variety of agonists was inhibited by 1-[6-[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl] amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dionel (U-73122) (IC50 values 1-5 microM), but not by the close analog 1-[6-[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra- 1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino]hexyl]-2,5-pyrrolidine-dione (U-73343) in which pyrrolidinedione was substituted for pyrroledione. Inhibition by U-73122 was not mediated by an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. In contrast, the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and the subsequent rapid increase in cytosolic Ca++ induced by either thrombin or the thromboxane-mimetic, (5Z,9 alpha, 11 alpha, 13E, 15S) 15-hydroxy-11,9-(epoxymethano)prosta- 5,13,-dien-1-oic acid (U-46619), was inhibited by U-73122 but not by U-73343. Reduction of IP3 levels appeared to reflect an inhibition of IP3 production because the hydrolysis of phosphatidyl[3H]inositol and phosphatidyl[3H]inositol 4,5-bisphosphate catalyzed by a soluble fraction from platelets was inhibited by U-73122 (Ki = 9 and 40 microM, respectively). In addition, U-73122 inhibited thromboxane B2 production induced by collagen but not that supported by exogenously added arachidonic acid, suggesting that U-73122 also inhibited receptor-coupled mobilization of arachidonic acid. After preincubation of platelets with [3H]arachidonic acid, the loss of [3H]phosphatidylinositol and accumulation of [3H]phosphatidic acid induced by thrombin was attenuated by U-73122. U-73122 did not inhibit the activities of phospholipases A2 purified either from porcine pancreas or from the venoms of Crotalus adamanteus and Naja naja. Although U-73122 inhibited neither the conversion of exogenous arachidonic acid to thromboxane B2 nor the binding of the thromboxane receptor antagonist [1S-[1 alpha, 2 beta (5Z), 3 beta, 4 alpha]]-7-[3-[[2- [2-[(phenylamino)-carbonyl]- hydrazino]methyl]-7-oxabicyclo [2.2. 1]-hept-2-yl-5-heptenoic acid to platelet membranes, it was an effective inhibitor of arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of platelets. These data are consistent with the observed inhibition by U-73122 of platelet activation by the thromboxane receptor agonist, U-46619, via a mechanism that involves inhibition of a phospholipase C-dependent component(s) of signal transduction. U-73122, but not U-73343, inhibited also N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced aggregation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and the associated production of IP3 and diacyglycerol. Diradylglycerol produced in PMN stimulated with N-formyl- methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine was 74 +/- 7% saponifiable and inhibited by U-73122 (Ki = 2 microM). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A High-Content Assay to Identify Small-Molecule Modulators of a Cancer Stem Cell Population in Luminal Breast Cancer

Breast cancers expressing hormone receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) represent ~70% of all cases and are treated with both ER-targeted and chemotherapies, with near 40% becoming resistant. We have previously described that in some ER+ tumors, the resistant cells express cytokeratin 5 (CK5), a putative marker of breast stem and progenitor cells. CK5+ cells have lost expression of ER and PR, express the tumor-initiating cell surface marker CD44, and are relatively quiescent. In addition, progestins, which increase breast cancer incidence, expand the CK5+ subpopulation in ER+PR+ breast cancer cell lines. We have developed models to induce and quantitate CK5+ER−PR− cells, using CK5 promoter-driven luciferase (Fluc) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporters stably transduced into T47D breast cancer cells (CK5Pro-GFP or CK5Pro-Luc). We validated the CK5Pro-GFP-T47D model for high-content screening in 96-well microplates and performed a pilot screen using a focused library of 280 compounds from the National Institutes of Health clinical collection. Four hits were obtained that significantly abrogated the progestin-induced CK5+ cell population, three of which were members of the retinoid family. Hence, this approach will be useful in discovering small molecules that could potentially be developed as combination therapies, preventing the acquisition of a drug-resistant subpopulation.
1mm coaxial matches with an excellent absorption behavior over the frequency range 0 – 110 GHz

Combining a theory for reflection free termination of coaxial lines together with a novel manufacturing method results in coaxial 1-mm matches with an excellent absorption behavior over the frequency range from 0 to 110 GHz. Three different electromagnetic simulation approaches verify the capability of these matches to achieve smaller reflection coefficients than -43 dB over the whole frequency range and matches with a maximum reflection coefficient of only -32 dB have been produced.
Array-based time-delay estimators for multipath wideband CDMA

A robust code acquisition detector is developed based on the maximization of the output signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) for asynchronous wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) systems with a multiple-antenna array. By exploiting an efficient low-rank multistage Wiener filter (MWF) of Goldstein and Reed, the proposed synchronization detector can be implemented practically to realistic environments. This multistage technique results in the synchronizing detection criterion that requires no inversion or eigendecomposition of a covariance matrix. As a consequence this receiver achieves a complexity that is only a linear function of the size of antenna array (J), the rank of the MWF (M), the system processing gain (N), and the number of samples in a chip interval (Q) per time step, i.e., O(JMNQ). The complexity of the equivalent detector utilizing the principal signal/noise subspace-separation scheme of data eigendecomposition or the minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) criterion is a function of O((JNQ)/sup 3/) per time step. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the acquisition performance of the proposed detector with a different amount of sample support and a various rank of the MWF. The performance advantage of the proposed detector over other W-CDMA timing acquisition schemes is investigated.
Blockade of LIGHT/HVEM and B7/CD28 Signaling Facilitates Long-Term Islet Graft Survival With Development of Allospecific Tolerance

Background. Previous studies have shown that blockade of LIGHT, a T-cell costimulatory molecule belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, by soluble lymphotoxin β receptor-Ig (LTβR-Ig) inhibited the development of graft-versus-host disease. The cardiac allografts were significantly prolonged in LIGHT deficient mice. No data are yet available regarding the role of the LIGHT/HVEM pathway in more stringent fully allogeneic models such as skin and islet transplantation models. Methods. Streptozotocin-induced chemical diabetic BALB/C mice underwent transplantation with allogeneic C57BL/6 islets and were treated with LTβR-Ig, CTLA4-Ig or a combination of both in the early peritransplant period. Results. Administration of CTLA4-Ig or LTβ R-Ig alone only increased graft survival to 55 days and 27 days respectively, whereas simultaneous blockade of both pathways significantly prolonged the islet allograft survival for more than 100 days. Long-term survivors were retransplanted with donor-specific (C57BL/6) islets and the grafted islets remained functional for more than 100 days. All of islet allografts were protected against rejection when the mixtures of 1×106 CD4+ T cells from tolerant mice and islet allografts were cotransplanted under the renal capsule of the naïve BALB/c recipients. Conclusions. These data indicate that: 1) a synergistic effect for prolonged graft survival can be obtained by simultaneously blocking LIGHT and CD28 signaling in the stringent model of islet allotransplantation; 2) development of donor-specific immunological tolerance is associated with the presence of regulatory T-cell activity; and 3) local cotransplantation of the allografts with the regulatory T cells can effectively prevent allograft rejection and induce donor-specific tolerance in lymphocytes-sufficient recipients.
Stoichiometric and kinetic characterisation of Nitrobacter in mixed culture by decoupling the growth and energy generation processes

The growth, maintenance and lysis processes of Nitrobacter were characterised. A Nitrobacter culture was enriched in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Fluorescent in situ hybridisation showed that Nitrobacter constituted 73% of the bacterial population. Batch tests were carried out to measure the oxygen uptake rate and/or nitrite consumption rate when both nitrite and CO2 were in excess, and in the absence of either of these two substrates. The results obtained, along with the SBR performance data, allowed the determination of the maintenance coefficient and in situ cell lysis rate of Nitrobacter. Nitrobacter spends a significant amount of energy for maintenance, which varies considerably with the specific growth rate. At maximum growth, Nitrobacter consume nitrite at a rate of 0.042 mgN/mgCODbiomass · h for maintenance purposes, which increases more than threefold to 0.143 mgN/mgCODbiomass · h in the absence of growth. In the SBR, where Nitrobacter grew at 40% of its maximum growth rate, a maintenance coefficient of 0.113 mgN/mgCOD · h was found, resulting in 42% of the total amount of nitrite being consumed for maintenance. The above three maintenance coefficient values obtained at different growth rates appear to support the maintenance model proposed in Pirt ( 1982 ). The in situ lysis rate of Nitrobacter was determined to be 0.07/day under aerobic conditions at 22°C and pH 7.3. Further, the maximum specific growth rate of Nitrobacter was estimated to be 0.02/h (0.48/day). The affinity constant of Nitrobacter with respect to nitrite was determined to be 1.50 mgNO 2− ‐N/L, independent of the presence or absence of CO2. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effective electromagnetic field analysis using finite element method for high frequency transformers with litz-wire

This work presents an effective electromagnetic field analysis using the finite element method for high frequency transformers with litz-wire. The Joule loss for the litz-wire can be accurately determined by considering both the skin effect and proximity effect. Efficient transformers can be designed by investigating both the impedance characteristics and the heat generation. We show the analysis results of the Joule loss, the iron loss and the temperature in the transformer. The validity of the results has been confirmed by experiments.
2.4GHz monopole antenna on flexible substrate for implanting sensor

This paper presents the design and measurement of a 2.4GHz monopole antenna on flexible substrate for implanting sensor. This antenna is based on a monopole antenna with coplanar waveguide feed line in order to realize the surface mounting device. The antenna size is 8.0 mm × 35 mm and peak realized gain is 1.21 dBi at 2.45GHz in simulation. This antenna has a unidirectional radiation.
Lower plasma testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, but not estradiol, is associated with symptoms of intermittent claudication in older men

In men, testosterone (T) levels decline with age, and lower T predicts all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality. However, the associations of T and its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2), with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease remain unclear. We assessed associations of T, DHT and E2 with lower limb intermittent claudication in older men.
Modeling of Fluorescent Color Mixing by Regression Analysis

Modeling of fluorescent color mixing is studied by applying regression analysis to the measured bispectral data. A sample set was prepared by using three fluorescent paints and different mixing combinations. The accuracy of estimations was evaluated by calculating the color difference ΔE in the CIELAB color space and Euclidean distance of spectra. Even though the estimation errors were considerably high, the best results overall was obtained using a sparse training set and of third order terms in regression.
SoxE, Type II collagen, and Evolution of the Chondrogenic Neural Crest

Abstract Vertebrates are defined by the presence of the neural crest. These cells contribute to the increased complexity of vertebrates relative to non-vertebrate chordates. It is widely accepted that an increase in vertebrate complexity is also related to gene duplications that occurred at the base of vertebrates and may be related to the origin of the neural crest. Study of the development of one neural crest derivative, pharyngeal cartilage, in the lamprey and comparison to chondrogenesis in other chordates may provide clues regarding acquisition of a chondrogenic fate by the neural crest. The transcription factor Sox9 is thr product of a SoxE gene (Col2a1) that regulates expression of Type II collagenin development of vertebrate cartilage. Duplication of the ancestral SoxE transcription factor into the three SoxE genes present in vertebrates might have been important in partitioning the chondrogenic neural crest role of Sox9. In this review, I discuss evidence that duplicated SoxE genes might have been key in the evolution of chondrogenic neural crest. The recent identification of duplicated SoxE genes, and identification of two Type II collagen genes in lamprey, coupled with their expression in branchial arches suggested ancient regulation of chondrogenesis by a SoxE gene. Examination of SoxE and Type II collagen expression in the developing lamprey branchial arches shows SoxE genes are expressed in developing branchial arch cartilage and Col2a1 genes are expressed in surrounding mesenchymal cells. Lack of cellular co-expression of SoxE genes with Col2a1 suggests additional steps might have been required for direct regulation of Col2a1 by Sox9 in jawed vertebrates.
Identification of Heterozygous and Homozygous Individuals with the Novel RYR1 Mutation Cys35Arg in a Large Kindred

Background Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially fatal, often autosomal dominant, disorder of skeletal muscle and is triggered in susceptible people by all commonly used inhalational anesthetics. In this article, the authors describe a malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) kindred in which both parents of the proband are MHS and are first‐degree cousins. Haplotype analysis in this kindred with chromosome 19 linked markers revealed that the proband and another sibling were homozygous for the affected RYR1 allele. Methods Eighteen members of this large pedigree were investigated, with a clinical examination for signs of a myopathy, a caffeine halothane contracture test, a histo‐enzymologic study on the muscle biopsies, and linkage analysis on genomic DNA isolated from family blood samples. RYR1 cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and was cloned and sequenced, facilitating mutation detection. Results Linkage analysis demonstrated linkage between RYR1‐linked markers and MH susceptibility in this family. DNA sequencing identified a T to C transition at nucleotide position 103, resulting in the substitution of an arginine for cysteine 35, representing the most N‐terminal mutation reported to date in the RYR1 gene. This mutation segregates fully with the MHS trait, generating a lod score of 4.65 in favor of linkage to MHS at a recombination frequency of 0.0. Conclusions The proband in this kindred is the first reported homozygote to have presented with an MH episode. The homozygotes in this pedigree do not have an overt myopathy. The sensitivity of muscle samples to caffeine clearly distinguished the two homozygotes from other heterozygous‐susceptible individuals. No clear differentiation was observed with the halothane contracture results.
Economic Freedom of the Russian Federation

Indices of economic freedom have been created for over 150 countries and for a variety of sub-national areas. This is the first index measuring economic freedom at the sub-national level within Russia. The index looks at the 82 regions1 of the Russian Federation from the country’s independence in 1991 to its most recent developments in 2015. The index ranks each region on economic freedom at both the regional and the all-government (federal, regional, and municipal) levels. This allows both isolating the impact of government intervention on economic freedom within the country and providing useful comparisons across countries. The regional index evaluates the degree of economic freedom in each region of Russia compared with other Russian regions. The all-government index allows comparing sub-national units in different countries to one another.
Expression of the Bacillus subtilis dinR and recA genes after DNA damage and during competence

The Bacillus subtilis dinR gene product is homologous to the LexA protein of Escherichia coli and regulates the expression of dinR and dinC. Using transcriptional fusions in the dinR and the recA genes, we have investigated the epistatic relationship between these two genes during the SOS response induced either by DNA damage or by competence. The results show that after DNA damage, induction of the expression of both recA and dinR is dependent on the activity of the DinR and RecA proteins. A RecA-dependent activity on DinR is proposed as the initial event in the induction of the SOS network. In contrast, the competence-related induction of dinR and recA appears to involve two distinct mechanisms. While one mechanism corresponds to the classical regulation of the SOS response, the other appears to involve an activating factor. Moreover, this factor is active in cells in which competence is prevented by a mutation in the regulatory gene comA.
Lack of CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein Beta (C/EBPβ) in Uterine Epithelial Cells Impairs Estrogen-Induced DNA Replication, Induces DNA Damage Response Pathways, and Promotes Apoptosis

ABSTRACT Female mice lacking the transcription factor C/EBPβ are infertile and display markedly reduced estrogen (E)-induced proliferation of the uterine epithelial lining during the reproductive cycle. The present study showed that E-stimulated luminal epithelial cells of a C/EBPβ-null uterus are able to proceed through the G1 phase of the cell cycle before getting arrested in the S phase. This cell cycle arrest was accompanied by markedly reduced levels of expression of E2F3, an E2F family member, and a lack of nuclear localization of cyclin E, a critical regulator of cdk2. An increased nuclear accumulation of p27, an inhibitor of the cyclin E-cdk2 complex, was also observed for the mutant epithelium. Gene expression profiling of C/EBPβ-null uterine epithelial cells revealed that the blockade of E-induced DNA replication triggers the activation of several well-known components of the DNA damage response pathway, such as ATM, ATR, histone H2AX, checkpoint kinase 1, and tumor suppressor p53. The activation of p53 by ATM/ATR kinase led to increased levels of expression of p21, an inhibitor of G1-S-phase progression, which helps maintain cell cycle arrest. Additionally, p53-dependent mechanisms contributed to an increased apoptosis of replication-defective cells in the C/EBPβ-null epithelium. C/EBPβ, therefore, is an essential mediator of E-induced growth and survival of uterine epithelial cells of cycling mice.
Reliability evaluation of intelligent manufacturing equipment

Combined with the intelligent manufacturing equipment operating characteristics, this paper proposes a reliability assessment method based on the regression model. We first determine the evaluation object and its components, and give the components a formal description. Then we use the regression model theory to build an intelligent manufacturing equipment reliability evaluation model. At last we use the confidence level theory to judge the results of the assessment. An application of the model to an intelligent equipment shows that this method can effectively evaluate the reliability of intelligent manufacturing equipment.
The Impact of Mandatory Savings on Life Cycle Consumption and Portfolio Choice

Retirement income systems have increasingly attracted academic research and policy discussion in the light of population aging in developed countries. Management of retirement wealth is of first order importance if sustainable pension systems are to be maintained while providing desirable retirement living standards. In Australia, employers have been compelled by the Superannuation Guarantee to make minimum contributions to retirement accounts on behalf of their employees. Nevertheless, the structure of superannuation is still being discussed and reformed with the aim of making it a better, fairer and more cost-effective system. While there are many empirical studies and policy reviews, research addressing the impact and efficiency of superannuation from a theoretical perspective is lacking. To fill this gap, and to contribute to the wealth management literature, this thesis examines the impact of mandated contributions into superannuation accounts on individuals’ lifetime consumption, risky asset allocation and wealth using a continuous time dynamic life cycle model. First, in Chapter 2, we provide a dynamic model incorporating the compulsory savings constraint for a representative agent. The agent is endowed with deterministic labour income, and assumed to rationally make decisions that maximise his lifetime utility of consumption. Consistent with the primary aim of superannuation, we clearly identify and conclude that compulsory contributions alter the agent’s consumption behaviour and risky investment to be more conservative, which in turn may increase the agent’s total wealth over the life cycle. Building on the model in Chapter 2, we further introduce a life insurance purchase to hedge the mortality risk of the representative agent in Chapter 3. The dynamic model in Chapter 3 is an extension of the work of Pliska and Ye (2007), in which we further consider the forced savings constraint. In addition to the foundational results derived in Chapter 2, we demonstrate a lower bequest value and lower life insurance demand under the compulsory savings constraint. In Chapter 4 we calibrate the theoretical model to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data and conduct a range of policy analyses. In particular, we can investigate the welfare loss arising from the one-rate-for-all compulsory contribution rules. Simulations of optimal paths show that the consumption of lowwealth individuals is severely constrained under current settings, resulting in a sizeable welfare loss. In response, we propose a time-varying contribution rate for individuals, which can mitigate the welfare loss while enhancing retirement wealth to achieve a desired retirement living standard.