Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alginate-matrigel microencapsulated Schwann cells for inducible secretion of glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor

Controlled expression of glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) can be integrated in the development of a system for repair of injured peripheral nerves. This delivery strategy was demonstrated via inducible Gdnf from microencapsulated cells in barium alginate. The Schwann cell line RT4-D6P2T was initially modified utilizing an ecdysone-based stable transfection system to produce RT4-Gdnf cells. During construct preparation, it was found that C6 cells (where Gdnf cDNA was isolated) make three Gdnf transcript variants. Additionally, the importance of 5′ untranslated region to drive biologically-functional Gdnf synthesis was shown. Encapsulation of RT4-Gdnf in 1% alginate was then performed. It was determined that cells were able to survive at least 1 month in vitro using starting densities of 20, 200 and 2000 cells/capsule and barium ion concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 200 mM. Most importantly, encapsulated cells secreted exogenous Gdnf upon ponasterone A induction. Mixture of basement membrane extract Matrigel™ to alginate promoted increased proliferation, cell spreading and Gdnf release. Finally, compression tests showed that cell-loaded microcapsules fractured at 75% diameter compression with 38 kPa of stress. Regulated Gdnf release from these microcapsules in vivo may potentially aid in the regeneration of damaged nerves.
Numb and Numbl act to determine mammary myoepithelial cell fate, maintain epithelial identity, and support lactogenesis

Mammary epithelium is comprised of an inner layer of luminal epithelial cells and an outer layer of contractile myoepithelial cells with mesenchymal properties. These two compartments interact throughout mammary morphogenesis to form branching ducts during puberty and terminate in secretory alveoli during lactation. It is not known how the myoepithelial cell lineage is specified, nor how signals in myoepithelial cells contribute to lactogenesis. Here, we show that Numb and Numbl are enriched in mammary myoepithelial cells, with their expression peaking during pregnancy. We use conditional Numb‐and Numbl‐knockout mouse models to demonstrate that loss of Numb/ Numbl compromised the myoepithelial layer and expanded the luminal layer, led epithelial cells to undergo epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, and resulted in lactation failure as a result of abnormal alveolar formation during pregnancy. Numb and Numbl function via repression of the Notch signaling pathway and of the p53–p21 axis during mammary gland development. These findings highlight the importance of Numb and Numbl in the control of myoepithelial cell fate determination, epithelial identity, and lactogenesis. —Zhang Y. , Li, F. , Song, Y. , Sheng, X. , Ren, F. , Xiong, K. , Chen, L. , Zhang, H. , Liu, D. , Lengner, C. J., Xue, L. , Yu, Z. Numb and Numbl act to determine mammary myoepithelial cell fate, maintain epithelial identity, and support lactogenesis. FASEB J. 30, 3474–3488 (2016). www.fasebj. org
Remittances Impact on Youth Labour Supply: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan

This research aims to investigate the impact of remittances from international migration on leftbehind youth occupational choice. Labour supply choice of youth is grouped as employee, family contributing worker, own-account worker and unemployment. Labour supply is analysed both at the extensive margin – participation of youth labour across these occupational choices, and at the intensive margins – working hours within each occupational choices. The analysis use “Life in Kyrgyz Republic” survey cross-sectional data for 2011. To overcome endogeneity concerns instrumental variable approach is used. Given the multinomial dependent variable and discrete endogenous variable “conditional mixed process” estimation technique is applied. Empirical results show that remittances impact on left-behind youth in Kyrgyzstan is mainly reflected as labour substitution effect. Unlike findings of some previous studies, we did not find any strong evidence of remittance-dependency behavior of left behind youth. However, increase of likelihood for youth as family contributing worker does not necessarily imply increase of productivity of labour force. There is no sufficient evidence of the fact that return from migration as the job creating activities and efficient utilization of remittances for own-account works exist. Moreover, female youth are more inclined to family contributing works both at the extensive and intensive margins. Results are robust to inclusion of other variables on individual characteristics. Given these empirical evidences, priority for the youth employment policy should be a channeling remittances into productive use. Moreover, educational programs with the emphasis on female youth and special programs on youth entrepreneurship and access to financial resources will be important for youth self-employment activities.
Modulation of the JNK and p38 pathways by cdk5 protein kinase in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

In this study we have used the transgenic mouse model Tg2576 to analyze the involvement of anomalous loss of regulation of cdk5 and the stress kinases JNK and p38 in brain neuronal death as related to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies on hippocampal cells led us to the discovery that the cdk5/p35 complex is activated in neurodegeneration, a finding that was confirmed later in the transgenic mouse model. Here we show a link between the cdk5 system and JNK and p38 phosphoproteins, as an alternative pathway to neuronal death. Brains of the Tg2576 transgenic mice overexpressing amyloid precursor protein exhibited immunoreactivity with the phosphoproteins p-JNK, p-p38 and the GTPase protein Rac1 surrounding neuritic plaques. A significant increase in the immunodetection of JNK and p38 phosphoproteins in the Tg2576 mouse compared with wild type controls confirmed these findings. The significant increase in co-immunoprecipitation of p-JNK, p-p38 and Rac1 proteins with cdk5 in the transgenic mouse provided evidence for these interactions. At the cellular level, p-JNK and cdk5 colocalized in the cytoplasm of the cell bodies and neurites of brain cortical areas of the transgenic mouse. The present evidence suggests a cellular link between the cdk5 system and the stress kinase JNK and p38 pathways in an in vivo model. This study sheds new light on the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration processes such as those occurring in Alzheimer's disease.
An efficient suffix-free padding rule for iterated hash functions

Suffix-free padding rules is the sufficient and necessary conditions to preserve the collision security for MD iterated hash functions. We provide a suffix-free length encoding padding rule to the iterated construction hash function to present an efficient new hash transform. The new padding rule requires no change in the internals of a hash function, runs as efficiently as the original, and as usual it is collision-resistance preserving. The padding rule is better than some known padding rules in terms of the padding size and the message space.
The International Practice of Statistical Property Valuation Methods and the Possibilities of Introducing Automated Valuation Models in Hungary

In the wake of regulatory, information technology and methodological changes, statistical property valuation has gained traction in Hungary. This paper looks at the available methods of appraisal based on the literature. We provide an overview of the advantages and drawbacks of the currently known methods. Based on these, automated valuation models (AVMs) can be readily introduced alongside the estimated median value based methods used so far. For real estate industryspecific reasons, the introduction of parametric hedonic estimates supplemented with spatial correlations can be expected for the time being. The better performance of statistical models would need improved quality of duties office data.
[Measles vaccination by the aerosol method in Mexico].

The present work describes the anti-measles vaccination program by the inhaled aerosol method undertaken in Mexico between 1988 and 1990. Detailed descriptions are given of the equipment, staff, training programs, promotion and campaigns. The vaccine is specified: Edmonston-Zagreb strain cultured in diploid cells at the Instituto Nacional de Virología of the Secretaría de Salud in Mexico with titres varying from 1045 plaque forming units (PFU/ml) to 1048 PFU/ml administered in a 30 sec inhalation with aerosol. During this exposure period, 2800 to 4000 PFU per child are estimated to enter the child, of which approximately 25% is the retained doses, i.e. 700 to 1000 PFU/child. A total of 3760684 children of school and pre-school age have been vaccinated in 13 of the 32 federal entities of the country. No undesirable effects of any importance were observed, and the limited serological and field studies support the effectiveness and security of this method. On the other hand, the method is much cheaper, faster and better accepted by the population than the subcutaneous injection.
Inferior olive: its role in motor learing

Specific chemical lesion of the rat inferior olive by intraperitoneal administration of 3-acetylpyridine prevents recuperation from motor abnormalities generated by unilateral labyrinthine lesion. Moreover, in animals that have recuperated from the balyrinthine lesion, 3-acetylpyridine produces a reversal of the symptoms within 2 hours of administration. These results indicate that the integrity of the olivo-cerebellar system is necessary for the acquisition and retention of this form of motor learning, but that the cerebellum itself is not the seat of such learning.
Lack of Transmission of Mouse Minute Virus (MMV) from In Vitro-Produced Embryos to Recipients and Pups Due to the Presence of Cumulus Cells During the In Vitro Fertilization Process

The risk of transmission of mouse minute virus (MMV) to recipients of murine embryos arising from in vitro fertilization (IVF) of cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs) or without cumulus cells (CDOs) in the presence of MMV-exposed (104 TCID50 [mean tissue culture infective dose]/ml MMVp [prototype strain of MMV]) spermatozoa was evaluated. Also, the time after embryo transfer to detection of MMV antibody and the presence of MMV DNA in the mesenteric lymph nodes of recipients and pups were investigated. All mice were MMV free, but two seropositive recipients and four seropositive pups were found in the group with CDOs. With regard to the CEOs, two of 11 holding drops and five of 11 groups of embryos were MMV positive using PCR, while neither holding drops nor embryos carried infectious MMVp, as evidenced by the in vitro infectivity assay. From IVF with CDOs, five of 14 holding drops and four of nine groups of embryos were MMV positive, while one of 14 holding drops and no embryos carried infectious MMVp. When 105 cumulus cells were analyzed 5 h after exposure to 104 TCID50/ml MMVp, cells had an average titer of 104 TCID50/ml MMVp. The present data show that, in contrast to CDOs, 2-cell embryos from CEOs did not transmit infectious MMVp to the holding drops and to recipients. This observation is due to the presence of cumulus cells during the IVF process that reduce entry of MMV into the zona pellucida and absorb some of the virus. These data further confirm the efficacy of the IVF procedure in producing embryos that are free of infectious virus, leading to virus-free seronegative recipients and rederived pups.
Perforin and lymphohistiocytic proliferative disorders

Perforin is critical for cytotoxicity mediated by granules present in natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Perforin‐deficient mice have impaired cytotoxicity by NK cells and CTLs, resulting in failure to control infections with certain viruses or bacteria. Infection of perforin‐deficient mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus results in haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and elevated levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Mutations throughout the perforin gene have been identified in patients with familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) type 2. These patients present with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, have marked elevations of T‐helper type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and have impaired NK cell and CTL cytotoxicity. A number of infectious pathogens have been implicated as triggering the onset of disease. Identification of mutations in perforin as the cause of FHL should allow prenatal diagnosis of the disorder. While stem cell transplantation is curative, gene therapy might be effective in the future.
How different from random are docking predictions when ranked by scoring functions?

Docking algorithms predict the structure of protein–protein interactions. They sample the orientation of two unbound proteins to produce various predictions about their interactions, followed by a scoring step to rank the predictions. We present a statistical assessment of scoring functions used to rank near‐native orientations, applying our statistical analysis to a benchmark dataset of decoys of protein–protein complexes and assessing the statistical significance of the outcome in the Critical Assessment of PRedicted Interactions (CAPRI) scoring experiment. A P value was assigned that depended on the number of near‐native structures in the sampling. We studied the effect of filtering out redundant structures and tested the use of pair‐potentials derived using ZDock and ZRank. Our results show that for many targets, it is not possible to determine when a successful reranking performed by scoring functions results merely from random choice. This analysis reveals that changes should be made in the design of the CAPRI scoring experiment. We propose including the statistical assessment in this experiment either at the preprocessing or the evaluation step. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Homology modeling of opioid receptor-ligand complexes using experimental constraints

Opioid receptors interact with a variety of ligands, including endogenous peptides, opiates, and thousands of synthetic compounds with different structural scaffolds. In the absence of experimental structures of opioid receptors, theoretical modeling remains an important tool for structurefunction analysis. The combination of experimental studies and modeling approaches allows development of realistic models of ligand-receptor complexes helpful for elucidation of the molecular determinants of ligand affinity and selectivity and for understanding mechanisms of functional agonism or antagonism. In this review we provide a brief critical assessment of the status of such theoretical modeling and describe some common problems and their possible solutions. Currently, there are no reliable theoretical methods to generate the models in a completely automatic fashion. Models of higher accuracy can be produced if homology modeling, based on the rhodopsin X-ray template, is supplemented by experimental structural constraints appropriate for the active orinactive receptor conformations, together with receptor-specific and ligand-specific interactions. The experimental constraints can be derived from mutagenesis and cross-linking studies, correlative replacements of ligand and receptor groups, and incorporation of metal binding sites between residues of receptors or receptors and ligands. This review focuses on the analysis of similarity and differences of the refined homology models of μ, δ, and κ-opioid receptors in active and inactive states, emphasizing the molecular details of interaction of the receptors with some representative peptide and nonpeptide ligands, underlying the multiple modes of binding of small opiates, and the differences in binding modes of agonists and antagonists, and of peptides and alkaloids.
The Social Origins of State Capacity: Organizations, Institutions and Late Development

Cases of successful developmental states constrained by democratic institutions pose challenges to the literature on the political economy of late development. On the one hand, the dominant view is that successful developmental states tend to rely on authority-based coordination mechanisms—corporatist arrangements, labor repression, professional bureaucracies insulated from popular pressures—to solve the social dilemmas created by state intervention in the economy. On the other hand, neo-institutionalist political economy argues that electoral competition should limit the incentives and capacity of rulers to create rents by using state authority to distort markets, transfer resources across private actors, and seek to plan and direct economic activities. Therefore, both of these lines of thought expect democratic developmental states to be rare, short-lived, and unsuccessful. Through a comparative historical analysis of Argentina, Mexico, France, and Sweden, this article expands neo-institutionalist arguments to show how democratic institutions actually made state-led development possible in cases where it was preceded by popular incorporation. However, democratic institutions only performed this coordinating function where the popular classes were also mobilized by internally democratic societal organizations. Where these conditions were present, popular organizations contributed to the success of state-led development by, first, monitoring state-business relations and preventing the capture of industrial policy by private interests; and, second, by maintaining popular support for the developmental program by extracting compensatory public goods that improved living conditions for the population. (Less)
Antiviral activity of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine against herpes simplex viruses in cell culture, mice, and guinea pigs

The susceptibility of 3 laboratory strains and 24 clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) to 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine was determined in plaque reduction assays in Vero cells. The median effective doses were 8.6 and 7.8 microM, respectively. The drug was less potent than acyclovir and other related antiviral drugs, but it had a high therapeutic index against both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Drug-resistant viruses were readily produced in cell culture. These variants were cross-resistant to acyclovir, 2'-fluoro-5-iodoaracytosine, and 2'-fluoro-5-methylarauracil but were susceptible to vidarabine or phosphonoformate. These findings confirm that the selective antiviral activity of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine is mediated by the virus-induced thymidine kinase. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of the drug at nontoxic doses was ineffective in protecting mice against intracerebral challenge with virus. Using implanted osmotic minipumps or coadministering the drug with dimethyl sulfoxide failed to decrease the mortality rate. In guinea pigs infected genitally with HSV-2, topical drug treatment was more effective than placebo in reducing lesion severity and other clinical and virological variables. These effects were noted whether the drug treatment was initiated 3 or 24 h after infection (ascertained serologically). Drug-treated animals had a significantly lower herpes antibody titer than did placebo-treated guinea pigs, suggesting that the drug can also reduce the viral antigen load. In this model, the drug appeared to be as effective as topical phosphonoformate or acyclovir.
A parametric frequency response method for non-linear time-varying systems

A new parametric frequency response algorithm is introduced to investigate linear and non-linear dynamic systems with time-varying parameters. In the new algorithm the time-varying parameters are regarded as additional inputs of the systems and the non-linear generalised frequency response functions for multi-input-single-output systems are then employed to obtain Zadeh's system functions from a differential equation representation. The parametric frequency response method reveals how the time-varying parameters affect the behaviour of the systems through a time-varying term. The new method can be applied to both linear and non-linear time-varying systems.
The Role of CXCR2/CXCR2 Ligand Biological Axis in Renal Cell Carcinoma1

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 3% of new cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. Studies in RCC have predominantly focused on VEGF in promoting tumor-associated angiogenesis. However, other angiogenic factors may contribute to the overall angiogenic milieu of RCC. We hypothesized that the CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biological axis represents a mechanism by which RCC cells promote angiogenesis and facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, we first examined tumor biopsies and plasma of patients with metastatic RCC for levels of CXCR2 ligands, and RCC tumor biopsies for the expression of CXCR2. The proangiogenic CXCR2 ligands CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5, and CXCL8, as well as VEGF were elevated in the plasma of these patients and found to be expressed within the tumors. CXCR2 was found to be expressed on endothelial cells within the tumors. To assess the role of ELR+ CXC chemokines in RCC, we next used a model of syngeneic RCC (i.e., RENCA) in BALB/c mice. CXCR2 ligand and VEGF expression temporally increased in direct correlation with RENCA growth in CXCR2+/+ mice. However, there was a marked reduction of RENCA tumor growth in CXCR2−/− mice, which correlated with decreased angiogenesis and increased tumor necrosis. Furthermore, in the absence of CXCR2, orthotopic RENCA tumors demonstrated a reduced potential to metastasize to the lungs of CXCR2−/− mice. These data support the notion that CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biology is an important component of RCC tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumorigenesis.
A low-power dual band all digital PLL with precision dual mode DCO and digital linearization control circuits

In the present article, a low-power dual band all digital PLL is proposed. Our recently developed dual band oscillator used in the structure of this dual band ADPLL. In the proposed ADPLL, toggling the input control bit utilizes the ADPLL to switch between two different frequency bands. Sustaining coarse and fine characteristics and with a combination of capacitive shift and Schmitt trigger techniques, this oscillator changes the trigger points of the circuit and thus results in variable delay and therefore, in creation of two different frequency bands. This can be used in situation when there is a need to switch between two different frequencies for two different application or multi-standard bands. In such an occasion, instead of using two ADPLLs, the proposed structure, which reduces the needed area, utilized. Moreover, in this method, there is no need for redesigning and evaluating the degree of stability against voltage changes, temperature and process of two ADPLLs. Simulation of the proposed dual band ADPLL is performed with HSPICE by a voltage VDD=1.8v in 180nm and CMOS technology. The frequency of the proposed oscillator ranges from 97.18MHz to 117.65MHz in lower band and 134.05MHz to 177.03MHz in the upper band.
Integrating Justice and Trust in Management Control Systems: How to Generate Goal Congruence and Long Term Fairness Coherent with the Firm's Mission

Based on the model and the concepts presented in Cuguero-Escofet and Rosanas (2013), that links justice in the MCS design and use to several states of goal congruence, we also incorporate the role of trust in managers as a crucial aspect of the informal organization. We are going to show that trust in manager is a consequence of the informal justice of MCS with implications for fairness perceptions in the long run. We specifically expect to be able show three consequences. First, that trust is a consequence of informal justice of the informal MCS; second, that trust and justice together generate effects in terms of goal congruence and long term fairness. We think that with this model fills the gap of existing research that looks at trust as a consequence of justice but also as a generator of justice, because trust is shown to have both roles: trust is as a consequence of ex-ante informal justice and at the same time, trust helps to enhance the virtuous circle of ex-ante justice and goal congruence to generate ex-post justice perceptions.