Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of two rat liver microsomal carboxylesterase isozymes: species differences, tissue distribution, and the effects of age, sex, and xenobiotic treatment of rats.

The preceding paper described the purification of two rat liver microsomal carboxylesterases, designated hydrolases A and B, that have high affinity (Km approximately 25 microM) and low affinity (Km approximately 400 microM) for para-nitrophenylacetate, respectively. The present study describes the preparation and purification of polyclonal antibodies against these purified enzymes. Each antibody was subjected to immunoabsorption chromatography to remove antibodies against epitopes common to both hydrolases A and B. The resulting isozyme-specific antibodies were used to study the regulation of hydrolases A and B by Western immunoblotting and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion. Liver microsomes from mouse, hamster, rabbit, guinea pig, cat, dog, cynomolgus monkey, and humans contained one or more proteins that were immunochemically related and similar in size (M(r) approximately 60 kDa) to hydrolase A and/or hydrolase B. These proteins were preferentially recognized by the antibody against hydrolase A, except for cat liver microsomal esterase, which was preferentially recognized by antibody against hydrolase B. In rats, the levels of hydrolases A and B in liver microsomes were coregulated as a function of age, sex, and xenobiotic treatment of rats. The levels of both enzymes were very low in 1- and 2-week-old rats, but increased abruptly at 3 weeks of age in both male and female rats. Treatment of mature male rats with 11 known microsomal enzyme inducers caused little (< 35%) or no induction of hydrolase A or B, whereas treatment of rats with beta-naphthoflavone, pregnenolone- 16 alpha-carbonitrile or dexamethasone suppressed the levels of both enzymes. The kinetic analysis of para-nitrophenylacetate hydrolysis described in the preceding paper identified a high-affinity esterase (Km 20-35 microM) in rat liver, testis, lung, prostate, and pancreas and identified a low-affinity enzyme (Km 300-800 microM) in liver, kidney, small intestine, lung, brain, spleen, and heart. Immunoblot analysis established that hydrolase A was present in liver, testis, lung, and prostrate at concentrations that accounted for the high-affinity esterase activity in these tissues. Hydrolase A was not detected in the pancreas, even though this tissue contained low levels of a high-affinity esterase. Hydrolase B was detected in liver and kidney at concentrations that accounted for the low-affinity esterase activity in these tissues. Hydrolase B was not detected in the other tissues examined, some of which (e.g., small intestine) contained high levels of a low-affinity esterase. These results indicate that hydrolases A and B are independently expressed in a wide variety of extrahepatic tissues in rats. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Global Down-Regulation of Gene Expression in the Brain Using RNA Interference, with Emphasis on Monoamine Transporters and GPCRs: Implications for Target Characterization in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism for regulating gene expression, which exists in plants, invertebrates, and mammals. We investigated whether non-viral infusion of short interfering RNA (siRNA) by the intracerebroventricular route would enable a sequence-specific gene knockdown in the mouse brain and whether the knockdown translates into disease-relevant behavioral changes. Initially, we targeted enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in mice overexpressing EGFP. A selective knockdown of both EGFP protein and mRNA was observed throughout the brain, with lesser down-regulation in regions distal to the infusion site. We then targeted endogenous genes, encoding the dopamine (DAT) and serotonin transporters (SERT). DAT-siRNA infusion in adult mice produced a significant down-regulation of DAT mRNA and protein and elicited hyperlocomotion similar, but delayed, to that produced on infusion of GBR-12909, a potent and selective DAT inhibitor. Similarly, SERT-siRNA infusion resulted in significant knockdown of SERT mRNA and protein and elicited reduced immobility in the forced swim test similar to that obtained on infusion of citalopram, a very selective and potent SSRI. Application of this non-viral RNAi approach may accelerate target validation for neuropsychiatric disorders that involve a complex interplay of gene(s) from various brain regions.
Household heterogeneity and consumption dynamics in the presence of borrowing and liquidity constraints

ABSTRACT I study the effects of borrowing and liquidity constraints on the response of consumption to anticipated income changes. Using the PSID over 1999–2013, I find that the well-documented strong excess sensitivity of consumption to income of highly constrained households can be explained by episodes of income increases. In addition, I look into the heterogeneity of households without debt, a group that has been largely disregarded by the literature. My fixed-effects estimates show that only those without debt tend to increase their saving in response to anticipated income declines, irrespective of the amount of liquid assets held.
Field and allozyme studies investigating optimal mating success in two sympatric spring-ephemeral plants, Trillium erectum and T. grandiflorum

A combination of field experiments and allozyme studies was used to test whether two spring-ephemeral plants growing in eastern North America, Trillium erectum and T. grandiflorum (Liliaceae), exhibited an optimal outcrossing distance for fruit and seed production. Furthermore, the spatial genetic structure of the Trillium populations was examined in light of the outcrossing results. In field experiments, recipient plants were pollinated with either self pollen or with pollen from donors growing 1 m, 10 m, 100 m, and 1500 m away. These distances represented crosses between individuals growing within the same population (1 m, 10 m, and 100 m crosses) and between individuals growing in different populations (1500 m crosses). Self-pollinated T. erectum and T. grandiflorum produced 71% and 89% fewer seeds, respectively, than all other outcrossing treatments. However, there were no significant differences among outcrossing treatments for fruit or seed production. As neither T. erectum nor T. grandiflorum exhibited an optimal outcrossing distance for fruit or seed production, it was predicted that populations of the two would not demonstrate strong spatial genetic structure or isolation by distance. The allozyme results only partially supported the patterns revealed in the outcrossing treatments. Populations of T. erectum and T. grandiflorum showed moderate spatial genetic differentiation based on F-statistics, and only T. grandiflorum exhibited significant isolation by distance based on spatial autocorrelation analyses. The lack of optimal outcrossing distances and the patterns of allozyme variation in T. erectum and T. grandiflorum populations may be attributed to a number of factors, including active seed dispersal by ants, rare long-distance gene-flow events, post-pollination and post-fertilization selection, and/or the severity of inbreeding depression.
Interactive particle tracing in dynamic scenes consisting of NURBS surfaces

Simulating the distribution of light in virtual environments to generate photorealistic images has become increasingly important for numerous applications in the field of computer graphics. Nevertheless, the off-line rendering of special effects for the film industry or visualizations for education, architecture, and engineering quite often takes minutes or even hours for a single frame. Especially in the context of dynamic scenes with freeform surfaces, simulating global illumination with interactive frame rates is very valuable; however, still challenging. Exploiting temporal coherences in lighting simulations yields a promising and feasible solution to optimize computing time by selectively updating scene regions with outdated illumination. We present a novel particle tracing method using multidimensional Halton sequences on top of direct ray tracing of dynamic scenes consisting of NURBS surfaces. Interactive frame rates are delivered without triangulation by carefully optimized intersection tests with NURBS surfaces and the support of multi-core processors. The implementation benefits from parallelization with SIMD operations due to quasi-random sampling of highly coherent particle packets with Halton numbers. Geometrical changes in the scene are handled by selectively deleting and retracing the affected particles yielding up to 75% faster particle tracing in comparison to computing a complete new lighting simulation. Finally, our method supports real-time adjustments of physical quantities, e.g. the spectral distribution of light spectra or surface reflectances.
Urban Image Classification With Semisupervised Multiscale Cluster Kernels

This paper presents a semisupervised support vector machine (SVM) that integrates the information of both labeled and unlabeled pixels efficiently. Method's performance is illustrated in the relevant problem of very high resolution image classification of urban areas. The SVM is trained with the linear combination of two kernels: a base kernel working only with labeled examples is deformed by a likelihood kernel encoding similarities between labeled and unlabeled examples. Results obtained on very high resolution (VHR) multispectral and hyperspectral images show the relevance of the method in the context of urban image classification. Also, its simplicity and the few parameters involved make the method versatile and workable by unexperienced users.
Progressive loss of the spongiotrophoblast layer of Birc6/Bruce mutants results in embryonic lethality

We have generated a mouse line with a mutant allele of the mouse Bruce/Birc6 gene induced by gene trap mutagenesis. Based on its structural features, Bruce is a member of the family of apoptosis inhibitor proteins (IAPs). This mutation leads to a truncated transcript and protein and results in a complete loss of the wildtype Bruce protein. Bruce mutant mice die from a progressive loss of their placental spongiotrophoblast layer between day 11.5 and 14.5 of embryonic development. The cause of the Bruce homozygous mutant phenotype is a lack of proliferation of spongiotrophoblast cells in the developing placenta. In contrast to in vitro data, which indicate a function for Bruce in apoptosis inhibition, the in vivo results presented here suggest instead a role for Bruce in cell division. genesis 42:91–103, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Secondary Education in BBC Broadcast 1944–1965: drawing out networks of conversation and visions of reform

This study examines the representation of Local Education Authority (LEA) secondary schooling in England and Wales as it was portrayed in non-fiction British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programmes in the twenty-one years that followed the 1944 Education Act. The primary sources drawn on for this study include the surviving microfilmed radio scripts, dating from 1944–1965 and held at the BBC Written Archives (BBC WAC). The correspondence files from contributors to programmes also provide a key source from BBC WAC. The majority of the programmes considered are radio broadcast, however some documentary films on the topic of secondary education, made by the BBC and transmitted on television, are also analysed. Where audio-visual copies have survived, the programmes were viewed at the BFI Viewing Services. The study draws on 235 BBC programmes in total, made in the years 1944–1965. The details of these broadcasts can be seen in the three Appendices accompanying this study. The study also employs the use of drawing to present key ideas. This study explores how broadcasts are formed as cultural products. The research questions address: what was the content of these programmes? Who collaborated to create and edit these programmes and how were the programmes devised to inform the public about the provision of secondary education? What was the role of the All Souls Group (ASG) in this collaboration? The public included a domestic audience in England and Wales and an overseas audience for whom distinct broadcasts were usually created. A further element of the research is a scrutiny of the BBC as an organization that positions itself as neutral. The considered programmes enabled a group of eloquent educationalists to use their rehearsed and edited ‘conversation’ on a public stage. As the study unfolds it becomes apparent that the members of the informal education discussion group, the ASG, were lobbying to encourage the topic of secondary education to resurface sufficiently often on air. The study concludes with recognition that the reinforcing of loyalties between overlapping networks, such as the BBC and the ASG, should no longer be approached with reticence in
Data traffic analysis in wireless fusion network with multiple sensors

In this paper, we consider a wireless fusion sensor network where multiple types of sensors are incorporated in each sensor node. Each sensor node incorporates a RFID reader and a acoustic sensor. The RFID reader senses the proximity of target objects and acoustic sensors detect the objects for position estimations. The object positions estimated by both sensors are compensated by visual sensor to obtain more accurate object coordinates. In this paper, we perform network traffic analysis for the wireless fusion sensor network by using NS-2 simulations under various network scenarios. The analysis includes the feasibility of fusion network, hop-by-hop delay, and end-to-end delay.
Improvement of Postnatal Neovascularization by Human Embryonic Stem Cell–Derived Endothelial-Like Cell Transplantation in a Mouse Model of Hindlimb Ischemia

Background— We established an efficient preparation method to obtain endothelial-like cells (ECs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and tested whether these hESC-ECs would show therapeutic potential for treatment of hindlimb ischemia. Methods and Results— ECs differentiated from hESCs were obtained by mechanical isolation and cell sorting for von Willebrand factor. The isolated hESC-ECs maintained endothelial cell–specific characteristics such as endothelial marker expression and capillary formation. One day after surgical induction of hindlimb ischemia in athymic mice, hESC-ECs were injected intramuscularly into ischemic limbs. Four weeks after treatment, hESC-EC treatment significantly increased limb salvage (36%) compared with treatment with medium (0%). In addition, laser Doppler imaging showed that the ratio of blood perfusion (ischemic to normal limb) was increased significantly (P<0.01) by hESC-EC treatment (0.511±0.167) compared with medium injection (0.073±0.061). Capillary and arteriole densities were 658±190/mm2 and 30±11/mm2 in the hESC-EC group, respectively, whereas those in the medium group were 392±118/mm2 and 16±8/mm2, respectively (P<0.01). Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction with human-specific primers revealed mRNA expression of human endothelial markers and human angiogenic factors in ischemic mouse tissues. The transplanted hESC-ECs were localized as capillaries near muscle tissues in ischemic regions or incorporated in the vessels between muscle tissues, as confirmed by human nuclear antigen staining with platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule or von Willebrand factor. Conclusions— This study demonstrates that hESC-EC transplantation improves blood perfusion and limb salvage by facilitating postnatal neovascularization in a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia. Thus, hESC-ECs might be useful as an alternative cell source for angiogenic therapy.
Multiobjective optimization with competitive coevolutionary genetic algorithms

Many methods solving multiobjective optimization using genetic algorithm tend to work negatively, causing that the population converges to small number of solutions due to the random genetic drift. To avoid this phenomenon, a competitive coevolutionary genetic algorithm(CoCGA) for multiobjective optimization is proposed. In the algorithms, each objective corresponds to a population. At each generation, these populations compete among themselves. The result of the competition is employed to direct the adjustment over the relation at individual and population levels. The proposed approach stores the Pareto optimal point obtained along the evolutionary process into external set. The proposed approach is validated using Schaffer's test function f2 and it is compared with the Niched Pareto GA(nPGA). Simulation experiments prove that the algorithm has a better performance in finding the Pareto solutions, and the CoCGA can have advantages over the other algorithms under consideration in convergence to the Pareto-optimal front.
STOCHASTIC CONVERGENCE OF PER CAPITA GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AMONG G7 COUNTRIES: AN EVIDENCE FROM STRUCTURAL BREAKS

This paper tests the stochastic convergence hypothesis of per capita greenhouse gas emissions among G7 countries over the period from 1990 through 2014. In testing stochastic convergence, we transfer per capita greenhouse gas emissions in level, relative to the average by using methodology of Carlino and Mills (1993, 1996) and investigate unit root properties of these obtained relative series by using recently developed unit root test of Narayan and Popp(2010) besides conventional unit root tests. Conventional unit root test results indicate that stochastic convergence hypothesis is supported only for France and United States. On the other hand, when we take into account existence of possible structural breaks, the results provide significant support for stochastic convergence of relative per capita greenhouse gas emissions for France, Japan, United Kingdom and United States and divergence for Canada, Germany and Italy.
Political fragmentation and fiscal policy: Evidence from German municipalities

The government fragmentation hypothesis (GFH) states that coalition governments spend more than single-party governments due to an underlying common pool problem. Using a large panel data set on 604 local governments in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg for the 1994-2014 period, I test the GFH for tax rates, the growth in government debt as well as expenditures and its sub-categories. Studies using standard regression methods fail to identify causal effect as the type of government is generally not random. I apply a RDD, that exploits quasi-random variation generated by close elections. I add external validity to the recent quasi-experimental literature by investigating the GFH for a mayor-council system. I find that contrary to the theoretical prediction, coalition governments do not increase taxes and government debt. There is a non-robust, negative effect on total expenditures, which is mainly driven by administrative expenditures and material expenditures.
The Impacts of Trade and Financial Developments on Economic Growth in Turkey: ARDL Approach with Structural Break

ABSTRACT This study examines the impacts of trade openness, financial development, and energy imports on per capita real GDP in Turkey over the 1960–2014 period. The results show that there is evidence of a stable relationship in the presence of a shift in the cointegration vector in 1980 and 1988. Furthermore, the results indicate that trade openness and financial development have a positive impact on per capita real GDP growth whereas energy imports have a negative impact. Consequently, policy-makers should adopt policies that sustain the benefits of trade and financial developments and improve the use of renewable energy to counterbalance the negative effect of energy imports on economic growth.
Barriers to the Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility in Gaming Industry

ABSTRACT Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important tool to reduce the adverse impact of the gaming industry. There were very limited studies specifically analyzed barriers of CSR practice in the gaming industry. This study adopted in-depth interviews and verified the interviews by dividing two informant groups. The results showed that cognitive dissonance, negative image, management dilemma, resources limitation, confused regulations, and unsustainable impetus were the major barriers in CSR implementation. Furthermore, the practical recommendations and suggestions were discussed.
Enhanced Homing Permeability and Retention of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells by Noninvasive Pulsed Focused Ultrasound

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have shown significant promise in the treatment of disease, but their therapeutic efficacy is often limited by inefficient homing of systemically administered cells, which results in low number of cells accumulating at sites of pathology. BMSC home to areas of inflammation where local expression of integrins and chemokine gradients is present. We demonstrated that nondestructive pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) exposures that emphasize the mechanical effects of ultrasound‐tissue interactions induced local and transient elevations of chemoattractants (i.e., cytokines, integrins, and growth factors) in the murine kidney. pFUS‐induced upregulation of cytokines occurred through approximately 1 day post‐treatment and returned to contralateral kidney levels by day 3. This window of significant increases in cytokine expression was accompanied by local increases of other trophic factors and integrins that have been shown to promote BMSC homing. When BMSCs were intravenously administered following pFUS treatment to a single kidney, enhanced homing, permeability, and retention of BMSC was observed in the treated kidney versus the contralateral kidney. Histological analysis revealed up to eight times more BMSC in the peritubular regions of the treated kidneys on days 1 and 3 post‐treatment. Furthermore, cytokine levels in pFUS‐treated kidneys following BMSC administration were found to be similar to controls, suggesting modulation of cytokine levels by BMSC. pFUS could potentially improve cell‐based therapies as a noninvasive modality to target homing by establishing local chemoattractant gradients and increasing expression of integrins to enhance tropism of cells toward treated tissues. STEM CELLS2012;30:1216–1227
Effects of high-volume plasmapheresis on ammonia, urea, and amino acids in patients with acute liver failure

OBJECTIVE:In acute liver failure (ALF), urea production is severely impaired, and detoxification of ammonia by glutamine synthesis plays an important protective role. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of therapeutic high-volume plasmapheresis (HVP) on arterial concentrations and splanchnic exchange rates of ammonia, urea, and amino acids—in particular, glutamine.METHODS:A quantity of 8 L of plasma was exchanged over the course of 7 h in 11 patients with ALF after development of hepatic encephalopathy grade III–IV. Splanchnic exchange rates of ammonia, urea, and amino acids were measured by use of liver vein catheterization.RESULTS:HVP removed ammonia and glutamine at a rate of 1 μmol/min and 27 μmol/min, respectively. Arterial ammonia decreased from 160 ± 65 to 114 ± 50 μmol/L (p < 0.001). In contrast, arterial glutamine was only minimally changed from 1791 ± 1655 to 1764 ± 1875 μmol/L (NS). This implied that the rate of systemic glutamine synthesis was increased by 27 μmol/min. Splanchnic exchange rates (before vs after HVP) were as follows: for ammonia, −93 ± 101 versus− 70 ± 80 μmol/min (NS); urea-nitrogen, 0.08 ± 1.64 versus− 0.31 ± 0.45 mmol/min (NS); alanine, −73 ± 151 versus 12 ± 83 μmol/min (p < 0.05); and glutamine: 132 ± 246 versus 186 ± 285 μmol/min (NS), with negative values denoting release.Conclusions:Arterial ammonia decreased during HVP in patients with ALF. The data suggest that this effect of HVP could be explained by increased hepatic urea synthesis and possibly by increased glutamine synthesis in muscle tissue.