Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transgenic production from in vivo‐derived embryos: Effect on calf birth weight and sex ratio

We examined transgenic‐cattle production by DNA microinjection into 1‐, 2‐, and 4‐cell embryos, analyzing the impact on calf size and subsequent viability. Embryos were either collected at an abattoir by flushing oviducts from superovulated and artificially inseminated cows (in vivo‐derived) or obtained by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization of oocytes aspirated from excised ovaries (in vitro‐derived). A human serum albumin (hSA) milk‐expression DNA construct was microinjected, either in one of the visible pronuclei of in vitro‐ and in vivo‐derived 1‐cell embryos or in the nuclei of two blastomeres of 2‐ and 4‐cell in vivo‐derived embryos. Microinjection‐induced mortality (lysis and developmental block) was equivalent (∼40%) for all microinjected embryos. Embryos were co‐cultured with BRL cells in B‐2 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FSC). Overall, embryo development to morulae/blastocysts was significantly greater for in vivo‐derived ova (15.5%) than for in vitro‐derived oocytes (9.3%). All morulae and blastocysts were transferred to synchronized recipient females on Days 6–8 post‐fertilization. A total of 189 calves were delivered. Birth weights were significantly greater for calves generated from in vitro‐derived oocytes compared with those generated from in vivo‐derived oocytes. One transgenic bull calf was obtained from the microinjection of a 2‐cell embryo. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of lymphocytes detected one transgenic integration site in all cells. Transmission frequency of the hSA transgene in embryos obtained through IVM/IVF/IVC utilizing the semen of the transgenic calf confirmed that it was not mosaic. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 60: 27–37, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and characterization of water-soluble chitosan produced by Maillard reaction

The objective of this research was to improve the solubility of chitosan by Maillard reaction with 1% chitosan and 2% reducing sugar (glucose or glucosamine) dissolved in 0.2 M acetic acid, which was adjusted to pH 6.0, and incubated at either 50°C or 70°C for 1–7 days. The physicochemical and rheological properties of the chitosan-saccharide derivatives were also investigated. Results indicated that the solubility of modified chitosan derivatives was significantly greater than that of native chitosan. The solubility of chitosan-glucosamine was higher than that of chitosan-glucose, and the chitosan-glucosamine derivative remained soluble at pH 10. The degree of deacetylation of the derivatives decreased with increasing reaction time. Rheological investigation revealed that the apparent viscosity of the water-soluble chitosan derivatives in aqueous solution depended upon system conditions such as pH, ionic strength, and solution temperature. The measured apparent viscosity decreased as all system conditions increased. As calculated by the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy (Ea) of the derivatives in aqueous solution generally decreased with increasing the extent of Maillard reaction with respect to the reducing sugars used.
Intracellular pathway of Onconase that enables its delivery to the cytosol

Onconase® is an RNase with a very specific property because it is selectively toxic to transformed cells. This toxin is thought to recognize cell surface receptors, and the protection conferred by metabolic poisons against Onconase toxicity indicated that this RNase relies on endocytic uptake to kill cells. Nevertheless, its internalization pathway has yet to be unraveled. We show here that Onconase enters cells using AP-2/clathrin-mediated endocytosis. It is then routed, together with transferrin, to the receptor recycling compartment. Increasing the Onconase concentration in this structure using tetanus toxin light chain expression enhanced Onconase toxicity, indicating that recycling endosomes are a key compartment for Onconase cytosolic delivery. This intracellular destination is specific to Onconase because other (and much less toxic) RNases follow the default pathway to late endosomes/lysosomes. Drugs neutralizing endosomal pH increased Onconase translocation efficiency from purified endosomes during cell-free translocation assays by preventing Onconase dissociation from its receptor at endosomal pH. Consistently, endosome neutralization enhanced Onconase toxicity up to 100-fold. Onconase translocation also required cytosolic ATP hydrolysis. This toxin therefore shows an unusual entry process that relies on clathrin-dependent endocytic uptake and then neutralization of low endosomal pH for efficient translocation from the endosomal lumen to the cytosol.
Performance analysis of next generation 3-D OFDM based optical access networks under various system impairments

Passive optical network (PON) based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM-PON) is a promising candidate for high optical access network due to its greater resistance to fiber dispersion. High spectral efficiency is also achieved due to the orthogonality among all sub-carriers which overlap in the frequency domain. Two-dimensional (2-D) signal mapper and one-dimensional (1-D) inverse fast fourier transform (IFFT) are the major elements of the conventional OFDM communication system. In this paper, we use the concept of three-dimensional (3-D) signal mapper and 2-D IFFT which is called as 3-D OFDM communication system. The performance of 40 Gb/s 2-D OFDM-PON and 3-D OFDM-PON using multi-level modulation scheme under various system impairments is analytically analyzed for coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) without using any optical dispersion compensation. As bit error rate (BER) depends on minimum Euclidean distance (MED) which is 15.46 % more in case of 3-D OFDM as compared to 2-D OFDM. Analytical result show that at BER of 10-3 which is the limit of forward error correction (FEC), there is about 2.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain. An optical budget (downstream) of 47.1 dB is obtained for 40 Gb/s optical access networks using 2-D OFDM and about 48.4 dB for 3-D OFDM with 16-QAM and corresponding values are 45.3 dB and 46.5 dB respectively for 64-QAM.
Walking trajectory generation for a 3D printing biped robot based on human natural gait and ZMP criteria

With development of 3D printing technology, making a customized robot is more fast and easy. In order to adapted various walking patterns for the customized biped robot, mimic human gait is one of the solutions. In this paper, human natural gait is firstly obtained by video system. The human body is modeled to use kinematic equations to find the joint angle from the captured trajectory. However, direct application of those captured joint angle data into the robot presents unnatural and poor balance. An improved walking trajectory algorithm is proposed based on the human natural gait and ZMP (zero moment point) criteria. The generated new gait trajectories are tested on the simulation model to get the stability of each joint movement and generate gait trajectory of the robot. Adapted walking pattern is successfully applied on the 3D printing biped robot.
Identification of a Mammalian Long Chain Fatty Acyl Elongase Regulated by Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Proteins*

Fatty acids are synthesized de novo from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA through a series of reactions mediated by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). In rodents, the principal fatty acid produced by FAS is palmitic acid (16:0). Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) enhance the transcription of many genes responsible for fatty acid synthesis. In transgenic mice that overexpress SREBPs in liver, the rate of fatty acid synthesis is markedly increased, owing to the activation of these biosynthetic genes, which include ATP citrate lyase, ACC, FAS, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase. The fatty acids that accumulate in livers of SREBP transgenic mice are 18 carbons rather than 16 carbons in length, suggesting that the enzymes required for the elongation of palmitic to stearic acid may be induced. Here, we report the cDNA cloning of a murine long chain fatty acyl elongase (LCE) that was identified initially by oligonucleotide array analysis of mRNA from SREBP transgenic mouse livers. LCE mRNA is highly expressed in liver and adipose tissue. The cDNA encodes a protein of 267 amino acids that shares sequence identity with previously identified very long chain fatty acid elongases. Cells that overexpress LCE show enhanced addition of 2-carbon units to C12-C16 fatty acids. We provide evidence that LCE catalyzes the rate-limiting condensing step in this reaction. The current studies suggest that mouse LCE expression is increased by SREBPs and that the enzyme is a component of the elusive mammalian elongation system that converts palmitic to stearic acid.
Simple clinical predictors may obviate urgent endoscopy in selected patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding.

BACKGROUND The validated Blatchford risk score (BRS) predicts outcomes in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, before endoscopy; completion of the Rockall score requires endoscopy. The aims of this study were to predict whether the modified BRS (mBRS) can predict (1) endoscopic high-risk stigmata (HRS) and (2) rebleeding and mortality. METHODS Clinical and demographic characteristics on 1869 patients from 6 Canadian provinces were prospectively entered into the Registry for Upper GI Bleeding and Endoscopy database, recording 30-day rebleeding and mortality. The Rockall score and mBRS (hemoglobin level, hemodynamic instability, and presence of melena, liver disease, or cardiac failure; urea and syncope were not recorded) were calculated. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between an mBRS of 1 or less with HRS and with rebleeding and mortality. RESULTS The mean (SD) age of the patients was 66 (17) years, with 62% men and a mean of 2.5 comorbidities. Of the 1860 patients with 30-day rebleeding data, 334 (18.0%) rebled; 5.3% died. The mBRS was 0 in 3% and 1 or less in 9.8% of patients; HRS were seen in 31.0% of patients. An mBRS of 1 or less was associated with lower rebleeding (5% vs 19%; P<.001) and mortality (0.5% vs 5.8%; P=.003), and was significant in multivariate analysis for rebleeding (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.48) and mortality (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.90). The HRS were less frequent when the mBRS was 1 or less (16.9% vs 32.7%; odds ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.6). Patients with a low mBRS with HRS had a low rebleeding rate (3.3%) and a lower apparent benefit from endoscopic therapy. CONCLUSIONS An mBRS of 1 or less identifies approximately 10% of patients with gastrointestinal tract bleeding with a low likelihood of having HRS and a low risk of adverse outcomes. A prospective randomized study is required to examine whether this subgroup of patients presenting after hours could be discharged safely from emergency departments with arrangements for (urgent) outpatient endoscopy.
Determining Degradation and Synthesis Rates of Arabidopsis Proteins Using the Kinetics of Progressive 15N Labeling of Two-dimensional Gel-separated Protein Spots*

The growth and development of plant tissues is associated with an ordered succession of cellular processes that are reflected in the appearance and disappearance of proteins. The control of the kinetics of protein turnover is central to how plants can rapidly and specifically alter protein abundance and thus molecular function in response to environmental or developmental cues. However, the processes of turnover are largely hidden during periods of apparent steady-state protein abundance, and even when proteins accumulate it is unclear whether enhanced synthesis or decreased degradation is responsible. We have used a 15N labeling strategy with inorganic nitrogen sources coupled to a two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis of two-dimensional IEF/SDS-PAGE gel spots to define the rate of protein synthesis (KS) and degradation (KD) of Arabidopsis cell culture proteins. Through analysis of MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectra from 120 protein spots, we were able to quantify KS and KD for 84 proteins across six functional groups and observe over 65-fold variation in protein degradation rates. KS and KD correlate with functional roles of the proteins in the cell and the time in the cell culture cycle. This approach is based on progressive 15N labeling that is innocuous for the plant cells and, because it can be used to target analysis of proteins through the use of specific gel spots, it has broad applicability.
Performance of indirect matrix converter with improved control feeding doubly fed induction machine

An Indirect Matrix Converter (IMC) with modified control technique feeding the rotor of Doubly fed induction machine (DFIM) with stator connected to three phase supply is discussed in this paper. This Indirect Matrix Converter with proposed control is divided into Rectifier stage and inverter stage. The output of the Rectifier stage with the proposed improved switching produces maximum dc voltage when compared to that of conventional IMC at the DC bus and ensures that the fundamental input current is kept at unity power factor under all operating conditions. The inverter stage uses a new switching scheme through improved switching sequence of space vectors where by the switching losses and output voltage distortions are reduced. The rotor side speed control of induction motor with proposed IMC supplying variable voltage at slip frequency to the rotor is analysed. The operation of the machine as Induction generator(DFIG) is investigated under sub and super synchronous speeds of the rotor driven by an external prime mover. The main objective of this paper is to study the performance of IMC with improved control supplying power to the rotor of Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) under all operating conditions. All the above mentioned switching techniques applied to IMC supplying power to induction motor load are analysed in MATLAB/ SIMULINK.
Supply and demand balance control of power system with renewable energy integration by introducing congestion management

The unstable output of renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines or photovoltaics, causes various issues in power system operation. With a large number of renewable energy sources, it is well known that the supply and demand balance control becomes a difficult issue. In addition, together with the progress of the electric power deregulation, the power flow problem will be more complex and important in the near future. Therefore, it is essential to realize the stable frequency control considering the power flow constraints. Hence, in this paper, we develop a new control mechanism regarding both frequency and power flow constraints. Based on the load frequency control and governor free control, we prepared the basic mechanism of the frequency control. Moreover, based on the demand response concept, we propose a new pricing method by using a formulation as an optimization problem for the purpose of maximizing the social surplus. The proposed method was tested in IEEE 39 bus system and it was shown that it worked properly.
Diversity patterns amongst herbivorous dinosaurs and plants during the Cretaceous: implications for hypotheses of dinosaur/angiosperm co‐evolution

Abstract Palaeobiologists frequently attempt to identify examples of co‐evolutionary interactions over extended geological timescales. These hypotheses are often intuitively appealing, as co‐evolution is so prevalent in extant ecosystems, and are easy to formulate; however, they are much more difficult to test than their modern analogues. Among the more intriguing deep time co‐evolutionary scenarios are those that relate changes in Cretaceous dinosaur faunas to the primary radiation of flowering plants. Demonstration of temporal congruence between the diversifications of co‐evolving groups is necessary to establish whether co‐evolution could have occurred in such cases, but is insufficient to prove whether it actually did take place. Diversity patterns do, however, provide a means for falsifying such hypotheses. We have compiled a new database of Cretaceous dinosaur and plant distributions from information in the primary literature. This is used as the basis for plotting taxonomic diversity and occurrence curves for herbivorous dinosaurs (Sauropodomorpha, Stegosauria, Ankylosauria, Ornithopoda, Ceratopsia, Pachycephalosauria and herbivorous theropods) and major groups of plants (angiosperms, Bennettitales, cycads, cycadophytes, conifers, Filicales and Ginkgoales) that co‐occur in dinosaur‐bearing formations. Pairwise statistical comparisons were made between various floral and faunal groups to test for any significant similarities in the shapes of their diversity curves through time. We show that, with one possible exception, diversity patterns for major groups of herbivorous dinosaurs are not positively correlated with angiosperm diversity. In other words, at the level of major clades, there is no support for any diffuse co‐evolutionary relationship between herbivorous dinosaurs and flowering plants. The diversification of Late Cretaceous pachycephalosaurs (excluding the problematic taxon Stenopelix) shows a positive correlation, but this might be spuriously related to poor sampling in the Turonian–Santonian interval. Stegosauria shows a significant negative correlation with flowering plants and a significant positive correlation with the nonflowering cycadophytes (cycads, Bennettitales). This interesting pattern is worthy of further investigation, and it reflects the decline of both stegosaurs and cycadophytes during the Early Cretaceous.
Intimate Partner Violence is Associated with Increased CD4+ T-Cell Activation Among HIV-Negative High-Risk Women

Background: Biological pathways mediating the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and increased HIV risk remain unexplored. We hypothesized that IPV-induced stress negatively affects HIV systemic immune defenses and aimed to evaluate whether IPV was associated with immune profiles linked to HIV susceptibility: CD4 activation and diminished regulatory T-cell (Treg) frequency. Methods: Seventy-five HIV-negative high-risk women were surveyed regarding their IPV experience. They provided blood, urine, and (if present) genital ulcer samples for cortisol, immune assays, and STI testing. Using flow cytometry, we assessed activated CD4+ T-cell (%HLA-DR+/ CD38+) and Treg (%CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) frequencies and phenotyping. Nonparametric tests evaluated the association between IPV and immune outcomes. Multivariate regression explored confounding and moderation of the IPV-CD4 activation pathway. Results: Lifetime IPV was associated with increased CD4+ activation (r = 0.331, P = 0.004), a shift in CD4+ phenotype from naïve to effector memory (r = 0.343, P = 0.003), and a decrease in naive (%HLA-DR+/CD45RA-) Treg frequency (r = -0.337, P = 0.003). Experiencing IPV over the past year had similar trends. After controlling for sexual IPV, lifetime physical and psychological abuse remained significantly associated with CD4+ activation (P = 0.004 and P = 0.033, respectively). After controlling for race (the only covariate linked to activation), the lifetime IPV-CD4 activation association remained significant (P = 0.012). Alcohol use and depression were identified as potential pathway moderators. Conclusion: Our data is the first to suggest an immune link between IPV and HIV, and may help explain differences at the individual level in HIV susceptibility and response to biological HIV prevention strategies. The association of psychological and physical abuse with CD4 activation independent of sexual abuse further supports the existence of a stress-induced immune pathway.
Complex clonal and plasmid epidemiology in the first outbreak of Enterobacteriaceae infection involving VIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase in Spain: toward endemicity?

BACKGROUND We report the emergence and spread of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) among enterobacterial isolates at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). METHODS AND RESULTS During the period from March 2005 through September 2006, 25 patients (52% of whom were in the intensive care unit) were infected and/or colonized with single or different MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 patients; Enterobacter cloacae, 12 patients; Escherichia coli, 1 patient; and/or Klebsiella oxytoca, 1 patient). Clonal analysis (XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) revealed that all K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to the same clone, but 6 patterns were found among the E. cloacae isolates. Carbapenems were affected to different degrees (minimum inhibitory concentration, < or = 1 to > 8 microg/mL), as were aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin. The bla(VIM-1) MBL gene was present in all isolates; in addition, the bla(SHV-12) extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene was detected in K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates. The bla(VIM-1) gene was detected within a 4.0-kb class 1 integron (bla(VIM-1)-aacA4-dfrII-aadA1-catB2) in K. pneumoniae and E. coli and in a 2.5-kb class 1 integron (bla(VIM-1)-aacA4-aadA1) in E. cloacae and K. oxytoca isolates. The bla(VIM-1) gene was transferable (filter-mating) in 14 of 14 K. pneumoniae isolates, 4 of 11 E. cloacae isolates, and 1 of 1 E. coli isolate. A 60-kb plasmid belonging to the IncI1 group was detected in the epidemic VIM-1-K. pneumoniae clone. Plasmids of 300- or 435-kb belonging to IncH12 group were found among E. cloacae isolates. CONCLUSIONS K. pneumoniae-MBL monoclonal epidemics coexisted with E. cloacae-MBL multiclonal epidemics in our hospital. The spread of the bla(VIM-1) gene among Enterobacteriaceae was driven by clonal spread associated with intergeneric plasmid transfer with different class I integron platforms. Such complex epidemiology might anticipate endemicity and should be considered for the design of containment epidemiology strategies.
Antimicrobial activity of different substituted meso-porphyrin derivatives

Abstract The increasing resistance against classical antibiotic treatment forces the researchers to develop novel non-toxic antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial properties of seven different porphyrins having distinctive hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity: P1 meso-tetra(4-methoxy-phenyl)porphyrin, P2 Zn(II)-meso-5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphyrin, P3 meso-tetra(p-tolyl)porphyrin, P4 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin; P5 (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphinato) dichlorophosphorus(V) chloride, P6 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin-Zn(II) tetrachloride, P7 Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin. The meso-porphyrin derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial activity against six reference strains: Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The antimicrobial activity of these samples was evaluated by the agar disk diffusion method and dilution method, with the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). The most significant result is provided by the water-soluble P5 manifesting an obvious antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes. On the other hand, P6 is a moderately active derivative against Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli and P7 presents moderate activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. All the tested porphyrin bases, presenting hydrophobic character, have no antimicrobial activity under the investigated conditions. The common characteristics of the porphyrins that act as promising antimicrobial agents in the non-irradiated methods are: the cationic nature, the increased hydrophilicity and the presence of both amino functional groups grafted on the porphyrin ring and the coordination with Zn or phosphorus in the inner core.