Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cylooxygenase-dependent Formation of the Isoprostane, 8-Epi Prostaglandin F2α(*)

Isoprostanes are a family of prostaglandin (PG) isomers formed in an enzyme-independent manner. They circulate in plasma and are excreted in urine. One of them, 8-epi PGF2αis a vasoconstrictor and mitogen, effects which are prevented by thromboxane antagonists. Given that 8-epi PGF2α may be formed by cyclooxygenase (COX) (Corey, E. J., Shih, C., Shig, N-Y., and Shimoji, K. (1984) Tetrahedron Letts. 44, 5013-5016; Hecker, M. , Ullrich, V. , Fischer, C. , and Meese, C. O. (1987) Eur J. Biochem. 169, 113-123) and that this might confound its use as an index of free radical generation, we sought to characterize the mechanism of its formation by human platelets. Activation of platelets by threshold concentrations of collagen, thrombin, and arachidonic acid resulted in formation of 8-epi PGF2αcoincident with that of the COX product, thromboxane, and the 12 lipoxygenase product, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, as detected by selected ion monitoring assays using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect appeared selective for 8-epi PGF2α among the F2isoprostanes. Pretreatment of platelets with aspirin or indomethacin abolished 8-epi PGF2α formation. COX-independent activation of platelets by high doses of collagen or thrombin, by the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or the prostaglandin endoperoxide analog, U 46619 was not associated with 8-epi PGF2α formation. Confirmation of the nature of the material formed by platelet COX as 8-epi PGF2α included its cochromatography over three highly resolving high performance liquid chromatography systems, identification by electron impact mass spectrometry, and its formation by partially purified COX. Inhibition of platelet thromboxane formation was associated with augmented 8-epi PGF2α formation.A major component of 8-epi PGF2α formed in serum by healthy volunteers was shown to be sensitive to inhibition by aspirin ex vivo. In addition to its generation by free radical catalyzed mechanisms, 8-epi PGF2α may be formed as a PG by human platelets. Given that activation of platelet COX characterizes many of the human syndromes which are putatively associated with free radical generation, assessment of the contribution of this pathway is relevant to the use of 8-epi PGF2α as an index of lipid peroxidation in vivo.
A 2.4 GHz CMOS power amplifier using asymmetric MOSFETs

In this paper, a two-stage 2.4 GHz power amplifier (PA) using the high-breakdown-voltage asymmetric NMOSFETs was implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology. In this process, the conventional NMOSFETs have a drain-to-source breakdown voltage (BVdss) about 3.5V, therefore restricting the available output power in PA designs. However, by using the special asymmetric NMOSFETs in the proposed PA, the circuit can safely operate at a supply voltage from 1.8 to 2.75V. Under a 2.75V operation, good power performances include a power gain of 20.4 dB, an output 1-dB compression point (Pout, 1dB) of 21.5dBm and a power-added-efficiency (PAE) of 29.6%.
Fear of childbirth and emergency caesarean section in low-risk nulliparous women: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective: To assess the association between fear of childbirth (FOC) and emergency caesarean section. Design: A prospective cohort study of low-risk nulliparous women at term. Setting: Nine obstetric departments in Denmark, May 2004–July 2005. Population: A total of 2598 nulliparous women in spontaneous labor with a single fetus in cephalic presentation at term. Methods: Self-reported FOC was assessed at 37 weeks of gestation by the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A and at admission to the labor ward by the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS). Mode of delivery was recorded by the attending staff. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR). Main outcome measures: Risk of emergency caesarean section in women who feared childbirth. Results: FOC (W-DEQ sum score ≥85 and DFS sum score ≥70) was not associated with emergency caesarean section: adjusted OR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.48–1.36) and OR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.55–1.71), respectively. Conclusion: In this prospective observational study, women with FOC did not have an increased risk of emergency caesarean section compared to women with no such fear.
Dependence of Phenanthrene Dissipation in Mangrove Sediment on the Distance to Root Surface of Kandelia Obovata L

We explored the relationship between the distance from roots and rhizosphere-mediated phenanthrene (PHE) dissipation in planted mangrove sediment. A compartmentalized device (rhizobox) was used that separated root surface and four consecutive rhizosphere layers that extended 0–2, 2–4, 4–6, and >6 mm away from the root surface. Kandelia obovata L. Druce seedlings were grown for 4 months in sediment spiked with 10 mg·kg−1 PHE. PHE dissipation, microbial community structure and enzymatic activities at millimeter scale in the vicinity of plant roots were analyzed. Results indicated significant differences in PHE dissipation through the various layers in the planted rhizobox. PHE dissipation exhibited the most rapid loss in the 0–2 mm near-rhizosphere layer, the lowest in far-rhizosphere (>6 mm) layer. Microbial community structure as indicated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles showed that special bacterial species and larger bacterial numbers were observed in near-rhizosphere layers. Depending on the distance to root surface, near-rhizosphere bacterial species and enzymatic activities were more abundant than root compartment and far-rhizosphere, resulting in rapid dissipation of PHE.
Vacuolation Activity and Intracellular Trafficking of ArtB, the Binding Subunit of an AB5 Toxin Produced by Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi

ABSTRACT Various Salmonella enterica serovars, including S. enterica serovar Typhi, encode an AB5 toxin (ArtAB), the A subunit of which is an ADP-ribosyltransferase related to the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin. However, although the A subunit is able to catalyze ADP-ribosylation of host G proteins, a cytotoxic phenotype has yet to be identified for the holotoxin. Here we show that its B subunit pentamer (ArtB) binds to receptors on the surface of Vero (African green monkey kidney) cell, CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cell, U937 (human monocyte) cell, and HBMEC (human brain microvascular endothelial cell) lines. Moreover, ArtB induced marked vacuolation in all cell lines after 4 h of incubation. Further studies in Vero cells showed that vacuolation was inhibited by bafilomycin A1 and was dependent on the clathrin-mediated uptake of ArtB. Vacuolation was also inhibited by treatment of cells with neuraminidase, indicating that sialylated glycans are functional receptors for ArtB. Confocal colocalization studies indicated that after cell binding and internalization, ArtB undergoes retrograde transport via early endosomes, the trans-Golgi network, and the Golgi apparatus, reaching the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) after approximately 2 h. The onset of vacuolation also coincided with gross cytoskeletal reorganization. At later time points, ArtB colocalized with ER-Tracker Red in the vacuolar membrane, implying that vacuolation is a consequence of ER disorganization. Thus, the isolated B subunit of this cryptic AB5 toxin has significant effects on target cells with the potential to contribute directly to pathogenesis independently of the catalytic A subunit.
Stimulation of protein kinase C‐α suppresses colon cancer cell proliferation by down‐regulation of β‐catenin

We reported previously that protein kinase C‐α (PKC‐α) negatively regulates Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. The current study explores the role of PKC‐α in the regulation of proliferation of colon cancer cells, which contain aberrant up‐regulation of intracellular β‐catenin. In colon tissue and cells, an inverse correlation was observed between the expression levels of PKC‐α and intracellular β‐catenin. Activation of PKC‐α inhibited β‐catenin response transcription by down‐regulation of intracellular β‐catenin and induced phosphorylation of the N‐terminal serine and threonine residues (Ser33/Ser37/Thr41) of β‐catenin, marking it for proteasomal degradation, in colon cancer cells. Pharmacological inhibition or depletion of PKC‐α‐abrogated PKC‐α‐mediated β‐catenin down‐regulation and phosphorylation in colon cancer cells. Notably, the Ser45 residue of β‐catenin was essential for PKC‐α‐induced β‐catenin down‐regulation in colon cancer cells. Moreover, PKC‐α activation repressed the expression of cyclin D1 and c‐myc, which are known β‐catenin target genes, and thus inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells. These findings suggest that PKC‐α negatively regulates colon cancer cell proliferation viaβ‐catenin phosphorylation/down‐regulation and may facilitate the development of new strategies to treatment of colon cancer.
Texture or Color Analysis in Agronomic Images for Wheat Ear Counting

In agronomy, image processing techniques are more and more used to detect crop, weeds, diseases . We proposed to study the feasibility to use color and/or texture analysis to evaluate the number of wheat ears per m2 to simplify the manual countings currently done. In this paper we present firstly the use of color and texture image processing together to detect the ears, before to propose and compare different texture image segmentation techniques based on feature extraction by first and higher order statistical methods. The extracted features are used for unsupervised pixel classification to obtain the different classes in the image, before to use the k-means algorithm. Three methods have been tested with very heterogeneous results, except the run length technique for which the results are close to the manual countings (66% error). The hypothesis took into account for the textural analysis methods are currently modify to justify them more accurately, especially concerning the number of classes and the size of the analysis window.
Improved belief propagation based on the estimation backtracking

We propose a general method to improve the decoding performance of hard-decision and soft-decision belief propagation decoders. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested on MacKay's widely known LDPC (504,252) code, CCSDS LDPC (256,128) and our irregular LDPC (128,64) code. The bit error rate indicated by our novel solution is up to five times lower for a particular signal-to-noise ratio of tested codes measured through AWGN simulations. Furthermore, a decoding time required for the same bit error rate as the bit error rate of a traditional BP decoder is up to three times lower when our approach is used in a non-pipelined implementation.
A 16-site neural recording probe array and its circuit model simulation

This paper introduces a simple MEMS (micro electromechanical system) process to fabricate a 16-site neural recording probe array and gives a detailed characterization of the neuron-electrode interface, based on the equivalent circuit approach. The impedance magnitude of the probes shows approximately a constant slope of f/sup -0.75/ from 100Hz up to 1MHz. The action potential can be simulated by the general-purpose circuit simulation program, such as HSPICE. The responses of the microelectrodes act as a function of several parameters, such as the sealing resistance and input resistance of the preamplifier. The responses are not sensitive to the changes of the microelectrode parameters. However, appreciable influence of the parasitic capacitance was obtained when the sealing resistance was large (e.g. 100M/spl Omega/).
Remembering the good times: neural correlates of affect regulation

The ability to regulate one's mood state effectively is critical to emotional and physical health. Recent investigations have sought to delineate the neural mechanisms by which individuals regulate mood states and emotions, positing a critical role of a dorsal system that includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate. This study extended these efforts by examining the neural correlates of retrieving positive autobiographical memories while experiencing a negative mood state in a sample of healthy female adults. We demonstrated that mood-incongruent recall is associated with activation in ventrolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortices (including orbitofrontal cortex and subgenual cingulate). These findings suggest that mood-incongruent recall differs from other affect regulation strategies by influencing mood through a ventral regulatory network.
Technology Shocks, Capital Reallocation Frictions and the Cross Sectional Returns

We study the cross sectional return implications of technology shocks through the channel of capital reallocation. We present a model in which capital reallocation frictions limit the non-innovating firms' ability to redeploy assets when facing technology shocks and forces it to hold unproductive capital. Hence its value depreciates more when the reallocation frictions are higher. The frictions can further amplify firms' risk exposure to technology shocks by altering the consumption dynamics and hence the risk premium of technology shocks. Empirically, We find that non-innovating firms' stock prices respond more negatively to technology shocks in industries with higher asset liquidity, while innovating firms' responses to technology shocks do not vary with industry asset liquidity. The results shed light on the role of capital reallocation in the creative destruction process and its asset pricing implications.
Dementia Syndromes in Nursing Home Patients

Patients (n = 191) living in four comparable somaic nursing homes (NH) (nursing homes for physical illness) were studied in order to evaluate dementia syndromes. Dementia and symptoms of depressed mood occurred frequently (72% and 63%, respectively). Dementia was often undiagnosed at admittance. Neither the length of time spent in institutions, nor marital status, age, or sex seemed to be of more than minor importance to the prevalence of dementia syndromes. Concerning functional impairment, convergence of findings across the societies studied indicates that psychiatric symptoms and psychopathology are intrinsic parts of long-term care of the elderly.
A Regression-Based Methodology for Solvency Surveillance in the Property-Liability Insurance Industry

A new methodology for assessing property-liability insurer financial strength is suggested in this paper. The procedure involves using regression analysis to estimate the relationship between premium-to-surplus ratios and insurer characteristics including asset and product mix variables. Analysis of the regression residuals then can be used to identify insurers with ratios that are substantially higher than those for insurers with similar characteristics. The method is illustrated using data for solvent and insolvent insurers. Its ability to identify insurers that later became insolvent is compared to that of the NAIC Insurance Regulatory Information System.
Hyperlipoproteinemic low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice are more susceptible to sepsis than corresponding wild-type mice

High circulating concentrations of lipoproteins have been shown to modify the cytokine response and reduce mortality after endotoxin or live bacterial challenge. Sepsis, however, is more complex than endotoxemia, and it is not clear whether elevated plasma lipoproteins will be protective. Previous studies have shown that the low-density-lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLR —/— ) mice with increased circulating LDL are protected against the lethal effects of endotoxemia and Gram-negative infection. We evaluated whether the LDLR —/— mice would be protected against the effects of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mortality was greater in LDLR—/ — mice than in control C57Bl/6J mice. At 120 h after inducing sepsis, 20% of the control mice survived whereas none of the LDLR—/— mice were alive. Prior to inducing sepsis, serum concentrations of amyloid A protein and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) were significantly elevated in the LDLR —/— mice in comparison to the C57Bl/6J mice. Protein expression of sCD14 was also greater in the serum from the LDLR —/ — mice than the C57Bl/6J mice. The elevated serum concentrations of LBP and CD14 were not associated with increases in the levels of liver CD14 mRNA and LBP mRNA. After inducing sepsis, serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β was also significantly higher in LDLR — /— mice than in the control C57Bl/6J mice. These findings indicate that the LDLR — /— mice were more susceptible to the lethal effects of sepsis induced by CLP. The LDLR — /— mice also had higher serum concentrations of baseline, acute phase response proteins, SAA and LBP, and increased production of IL-1β in response to CLP.
A peptide fragment of azurin induces a p53-mediated cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells

We report that amino acids 50 to 77 of azurin (p28) preferentially enter the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and T47D through a caveolin-mediated pathway. Although p28 enters p53 wild-type MCF-7 and the isogenic p53 dominant-negative MDD2 breast cancer cell lines, p28 only induces a G2-M-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. p28 exerts its antiproliferative activity by reducing proteasomal degradation of p53 through formation of a p28:p53 complex within a hydrophobic DNA-binding domain (amino acids 80-276), increasing p53 levels and DNA-binding activity. Subsequent elevation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 reduces cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin A levels in a time-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells but not in MDD2 cells. These results suggest that p28 and similar peptides that significantly reduce proteasomal degradation of p53 by a MDM2-independent pathway(s) may provide a unique series of cytostatic and cytotoxic (apoptotic) chemotherapeutic agents. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(10):2947–58]
Performance Evaluation of XMAC and BMAC Routing Protocol under Static and Mobility Scenarios in Wireless Sensor Network

 Abstract — Based on application requirements, nodes are static or mobile in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Mobility poses challenges in protocol design, especially at the link layer requiring mobility adaptation algorithms to localize mobile nodes and predict link quality to be established with them. This study implements XMAC and Berkeley Media Access Control (BMAC) routing protocols to evaluate performance under WSN’s static and mobility conditions. This paper gives a comparative study of mobility-aware MAC protocols. Routing protocol performance, based on Average End to End Delay, Average Packet Delivery Ratio, Average Number of hops, and Jitter is evaluated.
The Commodity Cycle in Latin America

This semiannual report  produced by the Office of the Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) of the World Bank  analyzes the economic and financial performance of LAC in light of the commodity price cycle. Chapter 1 covers short-term prospects, identifies the external factors affecting the economic slowdown, and focuses on the policy challenges faced by the region (South America in particular) in terms of the monetary, fiscal, external and social adjustments required to accommodate the new external environment. Chapter 2 reviews the regions experience during the commodity cycle, links it with the external environment, and identifies low saving as a key determinant of both the macroeconomic performance during the cycle and the constrained policy space policy makers now face, in some countries more than others. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the policy choices the region now faces, both for the immediate future and for the longer run.
Rapid cell-cycle reentry and cell death after acute inactivation of the retinoblastoma gene product in postnatal cochlear hair cells

Unlike lower vertebrates, mammals are unable to replace damaged mechanosensory hair cells (HCs) in the cochlea. Recently, ablation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) in undifferentiated mouse HC precursors was shown to cause cochlear HC proliferation and the generation of new HCs, raising the hope that inactivation of Rb in postmitotic HCs could trigger cell division and regenerate functional HCs postnatally. Here, we acutely inactivated Rb in nearly all cochlear HCs of newborn mice, using a newly developed HC-specific inducible Cre mouse line. Beginning 48 h after Rb deletion, ≈40% of HCs were in the S and M phases of the cell cycle, demonstrating an overriding role for Rb in maintaining the quiescent state of postnatal HCs. Unlike Rb-null HC precursors, such HCs failed to undergo cell division and died rapidly. HC clusters were restricted to the less differentiated cochlear regions, consistent with differentiation-dependent roles of Rb. Moreover, outer HCs expressed the maturation marker prestin, suggesting an embryonic time window for Rb-dependent HC specification. We conclude that Rb plays essential and age-dependent roles during HC proliferation and differentiation, and, in contrast to previous hypotheses, cell death after forced cell-cycle reentry presents a major challenge for mammalian HC regeneration from residual postnatal HCs.
Embodied Ambient Intelligent Systems

The information and communication technology (ICT) we interact with in daily life is more and more distributed in the environment (the so called intelligent space). Most of these devices have increasing calculation capacity and therefore the potential to contribute to an overall distributed calculation power and therefor a processing intelligence. These so called intelligent nodes can for example provide context information (sensors) or act as an interface through which we interact with the whole system. At the same time interaction with such ambient intelligent systems gets more and more complex. The interaction with the system is not any more human to single machine, like we were used in the interaction with the personal computer (PC) or personal device, it’s an interaction with a system which is around us and ubiquitously distributed in our surroundings.Research projects are currently investigating the possibility of users interacting with avatars. The advantage of avatars is, that the systems gets an embodiment and a personality. The complexity of the underlying distributed system is hidden from the user. The user is interacting in a natural dialogue with a system which has a personality, cognitive and effective capabilities, human like memory structures as well as perception and awareness. The paper presents the concept of ambient intelligent systems and the challenges regarding user interaction. It shows how the interaction of such systems can be improved by the embodiment of an ambient distributed system. Based on three current research projects working with avatars this concept is explained and first results are presented.