Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transfer of maternal cholesterol to embryo and fetus in pregnant mice Published, JLR Papers in Press, August 1, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M500096-JLR200

Cholesterol is essential for antenatal development. However, the transport of maternal cholesterol to the embryo has not been sufficiently studied, and that to the fetus is still controversial. To this end, a 1 mg dose of [3,4-13C2]cholesterol was injected daily into pregnant mice and the labeled cholesterol was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After venous injections from days 10 to 17 of gestation, [13C]cholesterol levels in total (12C and 13C) cholesterol were increased to 5.1% and 2.8% in maternal and fetal plasma, respectively. Labeled cholesterol was identified in the liver, kidneys, and intestines, but not in the brain, of the fetus. After injections from days 1 to 8, [13C]cholesterol levels were increased to 12.4% and 8.0% of total cholesterol in maternal plasma and the embryo, respectively. The level of 11.5% in the yolk sac was higher than that in the embryo. Intrauterine transfer of maternal cholesterol to the embryo as well as the fetus was evident in mice, and both the placenta and the yolk sac appear to be sites of intermediate passage in murine pregnancy.
A 60-GHz CMOS VCO Using Capacitance-Splitting and Gate–Drain Impedance-Balancing Techniques

The design and measurement of a 60-GHz 90-nm CMOS voltage-controlled oscillator is presented. To reduce the power consumption and to improve the phase-noise performance, a capacitance-splitting and a gate-drain impedance-balancing techniques, which are realized with an inductive divider, are proposed. With these techniques, the size of the cross-coupled pair is reduced. Analysis of the proposed techniques shows that the transistor g m generation efficiency is improved and the oscillator noise factor is reduced. Moreover, the tank loaded quality factor is increased by balancing impedance levels across the transistor terminals. The 60-GHz oscillator was fabricated in a 90-nm CMOS technology. Under 0.6-V supply, the oscillator achieved a tuning range from 61.1 to 66.7 GHz, consuming only 3.16 mW. At 64 GHz, the phase noise is -95 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset.
Data Portraiture and Topic Models

The art world uses the tradition of portraiture to semantically compress relevant information about their subjects into a single art work. We believe this tradition can be extended into the digital realm by the use of topic modeling to compress individuals’ information into generative data portraits. Data portraiture has strong implications for navigating large social spaces, collaborative systems, and self reflection. We briefly showcase our works thus far to highlight potential directions in this emerging field.
Circuits for Multisensory Integration and Attentional Modulation Through the Prefrontal Cortex and the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus in Primates

Converging evidence from anatomic and physiological studies suggests that the interaction of high-order association cortices with the thalamus is necessary to focus attention on a task in a complex environment with multiple distractions. Interposed between the thalamus and cortex, the inhibitory thalamic reticular nucleus intercepts and regulates communication between the two structures. Recent findings demonstrate that a unique circuitry links the prefrontal cortex with the reticular nucleus and may underlie the process of selective attention to enhance salient stimuli and suppress irrelevant stimuli in behavior. Unlike other cortices, some prefrontal areas issue widespread projections to the reticular nucleus, extending beyond the frontal sector to the sensory sectors of the nucleus, and may influence the flow of sensory information from the thalamus to the cortex. Unlike other thalamic nuclei, the mediodorsal nucleus, which is the principal thalamic nucleus for the prefrontal cortex, has similarly widespread connections with the reticular nucleus. Unlike sensory association cortices, some terminations from prefrontal areas to the reticular nucleus are large, suggesting efficient transfer of information. We propose a model showing that the specialized features of prefrontal pathways in the reticular nucleus may allow selection of relevant information and override distractors, in processes that are deranged in schizophrenia.
Various Security Analysis of a pfCM-MD Hash Domain Extension and Applications based on the Extension

We propose a new hash domain extension a prefix-free-Counter-MaskingMD (pfCM-MD). And, among security notions for the hash function, we focus on the indifferentiable security notion by which we can check whether the structure of a given hash function has any weakness or not. Next, we consider the security of HMAC, two new prf constructions, NIST SP 800-56A key derivation function, and the randomized hashing in NIST SP 800-106, where all of them are based on the pfCM-MD. Especially, due to the counter of the pfCM-MD, the pfCM-MD are secure against all of generic second-preimage attacks such as Kelsey-Schneier attack [20] and Elena et al.’ attck [1]. Our proof technique and most of notations follow those in [6, 3, 4].
Characterization of TSET, an ancient and widespread membrane trafficking complex

The heterotetrameric AP and F-COPI complexes help to define the cellular map of modern eukaryotes. To search for related machinery, we developed a structure-based bioinformatics tool, and identified the core subunits of TSET, a 'missing link' between the APs and COPI. Studies in Dictyostelium indicate that TSET is a heterohexamer, with two associated scaffolding proteins. TSET is non-essential in Dictyostelium, but may act in plasma membrane turnover, and is essentially identical to the recently described TPLATE complex, TPC. However, whereas TPC was reported to be plant-specific, we can identify a full or partial complex in every eukaryotic supergroup. An evolutionary path can be deduced from the earliest origins of the heterotetramer/scaffold coat to its multiple manifestations in modern organisms, including the mammalian muniscins, descendants of the TSET medium subunits. Thus, we have uncovered the machinery for an ancient and widespread pathway, which provides new insights into early eukaryotic evolution. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.02866. 001
Self-Expanding Stent for Recanalization of Acute Embolic or Dissecting Intracranial Artery Occlusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stent placement may be an effective and last resort method for recanalization of recalcitrant intracranial artery occlusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a self-expanding stent for the recanalization of acute embolic or dissecting intracranial artery occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients (mean age, 66 years; NIHSS score, 10–23) with acute embolic (n = 8) or dissecting occlusion (n = 1) of the intracranial arteries (ICA terminus in 5, MCA in 3, and BA in 1) were treated with a recapturable self-expanding stent. The safety and efficacy of the stent for recanalization were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The emboli were entrapped against the vessel wall by the stent, resulting in immediate recanalization (TIMI 2) in all embolic occlusions. The dissecting occlusion was recanalized completely (TIMI 3). Adjunctive thrombolytics (n = 8, urokinase, 100,000–300,000 U) and/or GP IIb/IIIa antagonist (n = 7, tirofiban, 0.5–1 mg) were administered intra-arterially, and the degree of recanalization further improved in 4 embolic occlusions (TIMI 3). Acute in-stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients, who received only urokinase without GP IIb/IIIa antagonist. Both of the reoccluded arteries were reopened, by stent recapture in 1 and by intra-arterial administration of GP IIb/IIIa antagonist in the other. Recapture was attempted in 7 cases, of which there were 3 successful outcomes. There was 1 asymptomatic hemorrhagic conversion at the infarction site. The mean improvement of the NIHSS score between baseline and discharge was 12.3 (range, 3–22). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of this study suggest that a self-expanding stent may be safe and efficient for recanalization of acute embolic or dissecting intracranial artery occlusion.
What is Technology Education? A Review of the “Official Curriculum”

Abstract Technology education, not to be confused with educational technology, has an “official curriculum. ” This article explores this “official curriculum” and answers the following questions; what are the goals of technology education, what should technology education look like in classrooms, and why technology education is important. This article provides a primer on technology education that would be helpful to educational professionals interested in helping students become more technological literate.
CMOS Low-Noise Amplifier Analysis and Optimization for Wideband Applications

A low-noise amplifier design for the wideband applications is discussed in this paper. A typical inductively degenerated common source (IDCS) LNA is optimal for narrowband systems with reception band of few hundred MHz. However, ultrawideband systems with multiple GHz bandwidth set new requirements for the LNA. In this paper the usability of IDCS topology for UWB system is studied. Different possibilities to enhance bandwidth without using extra inductors are analyzed and compared
Association of distinct variants in SORL1 with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative changes related to Alzheimer disease.

BACKGROUND Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2 distinct regions of the gene for the sortilin-related receptor (SORL1) (bounded by consecutively numbered SNPs 8-10 and 22-25) were shown to be associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) in multiple ethnically diverse samples. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that SORL1 is associated with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of atrophy and/or vascular disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS We evaluated the association of 30 SNPs spanning SORL1 with MRI measures of general cerebral atrophy, hippocampal atrophy, white matter hyperintensities, and overall cerebrovascular disease in 44 African American and 182 white sibships from the MIRAGE Study. We performed single- and 3-SNP haplotype association analyses using family-based tests. Haplotypes found to be significantly associated with at least 1 MRI trait were tested for association with 6 pathological traits in a separate sample of 69 white patients with autopsy-confirmed AD. RESULTS In white patients, white matter hyperintensities were associated with multiple markers in the region encompassing SNPs 6 to 10, whereas cerebral and hippocampal atrophy were associated with markers from the region including SNPs 21 to 26. Examination of specific 3-SNP haplotypes from these 2 regions in the autopsy-confirmed cases of AD revealed association of white matter disease with SNPs 8 to 10 and association of hippocampal atrophy with SNPs 22 to 26. The haplotype CGC at SNPs 8 to 10 was associated with fewer white matter changes in the clinical (P<.001) and autopsy (P=.02) samples. CONCLUSIONS Variants of SORL1 previously associated with AD are also associated with MRI and neuropathological measures of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disease. These findings not only support the hypothesis that multiple areas in SORL1 are of functional importance but also raise the possibility that multiple SORL1 variants influence amyloid precursor protein or endothelial lipoprotein processing or both in different regions of the brain.
Versatile Toolbox for High Throughput Biochemical and Functional Studies with Fluorescent Fusion Proteins

Fluorescent fusion proteins are widely used to study protein localization and interaction dynamics in living cells. However, to fully characterize proteins and to understand their function it is crucial to determine biochemical characteristics such as enzymatic activity and binding specificity. Here we demonstrate an easy, reliable and versatile medium/high-throughput method to study biochemical and functional characteristics of fluorescent fusion proteins. Using a new system based on 96-well micro plates comprising an immobilized GFP-binding protein (GFP-mulitTrap), we performed fast and efficient one-step purification of different GFP- and YFP-fusion proteins from crude cell lysate. After immobilization we determined highly reproducible binding ratios of cellular expressed GFP-fusion proteins to histone-tail peptides, DNA or selected RFP-fusion proteins. In particular, we found Cbx1 preferentially binding to di-and trimethylated H3K9 that is abolished by phosphorylation of the adjacent serine. DNA binding assays showed, that the MBD domain of MeCP2 discriminates between fully methylated over unmethylated DNA and protein-protein interactions studies demonstrate, that the PBD domain of Dnmt1 is essential for binding to PCNA. Moreover, using an ELISA-based approach, we detected endogenous PCNA and histone H3 bound at GFP-fusions. In addition, we quantified the level of H3K4me2 on nucleosomes containing different histone variants. In summary, we present an innovative medium/high-throughput approach to analyse binding specificities of fluroescently labeled fusion proteins and to detect endogenous interacting factors in a fast and reliable manner in vitro.
Language loss, language gain: Cultural camouflage and social change among the Sekani of Northern British Columbia

ABSTRACT The creation of a large artificial lake in 1968 that flooded a large part of the Sekani homeland has led to change in the political outlook of the reorganized Sekani villages. In particular, there has been a reemergence of a universalist social–political philosophy, pan-Indianism, that had as its precursor the cultural–political category of phratry. The association between disruption and the emergence of this system of categorization is historically grounded. The particular problem addressed is why the Sekani speak English when there is little direct contact with Euro-Canadians and no particular advantages, in terms of adaptation to the new economic regime, in doing so. Changes in Sekani English in the political sphere and in relationship terms are examined within the context of maintaining a commitment to pan-Indianism/universalism. (Language loss, bilingualism, political culture, ways of speaking, British Columbia, Athapaskan languages)
Molecular markers reveal spatially segregated cryptic species in a critically endangered fish, the common skate (Dipturus batis)

Many sharks and skates are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because of their large size, slow growth, late maturity and low fecundity. In Europe dramatic population declines have taken place in common skate (Dipturus batis L.), one of the largest demersal fish in regional shelf seas, leading to extirpations from substantial parts of its former range. Here we report the discovery of cryptic species in common skate collected from the northeast Atlantic continental shelf. Data from nuclear microsatellite markers indicated two clearly distinct clades and phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences demonstrated monophyly of each one of them. Capture locations showed evidence of strong spatial segregation, with one taxon occurring mainly in waters off the southern British Isles and around Rockall, while the other was restricted to more northerly shelf waters. These apparently cryptic species showed overlapping substrate and depth preferences, but distributional limits were closely related to temperature gradients, potentially indicating thermal limits to their distributions. This discovery of hidden diversity within a large, critically endangered marine vertebrate demonstrates how marine biodiversity can be underestimated, even in such a relatively well-studied and heavily exploited region.
Some mechanisms of oceanic mixing revealed in aerial photographs

Estimates of circulation rates within the mixed layer of the ocean have been made based on aerial photographs of a variety of dye injections and floating cards in the surface and near-surface levels under different wind, sea state, and thermal profile conditions. The following are the main features derived from our studies of the circulation patterns in the mixing layer in the Bermuda area. (1) Except under calm conditions, the first few meters of the sea are subjected to helical flow of small-size Langmuir cells with 3 to 6 meter spacing between the convergence lines. (2) Under moderate to strong wind conditions (10–30 knots), a hierarchy of larger-size Langmuir cells is developed. The maximum horizontal spacing between the larger cells is approximately the same as the depth of the mixing layer. The spacing of the convergence zones between the largest cells was 280 meters, and they were accompanied by medium and small-size cells of approximately 35 and 5 meters, respectively. Estimates of the apparent vertical diffusion associated with the large and medium Langmuir cells are thousands and hundreds of cm2/sec, respectively. (3) A stratified flow resembling an Ekman spiral is observed under moderate conditions. (4) There is coexistence between the small-size Langmuir cells and the Ekman spiral below. However, when the large Langmuir cells are developed, the flow pattern in the mixing layer does not resemble an Ekman spiral. The transition from the Ekman to the Langmuir regime occurs with turbulence Reynolds numbers of approximately 100. (5) Under calm conditions following a period of moderate winds and thermal instability, we observed convergence zones having anticyclonic rotation with inertial period.
Incremental Evaluation of Higher Order Attributes

Compilers, amongst other programs, often work with data that (slowly) changes over time. When the changes between subsequent runs of the compiler are small, one would hope the compiler to incrementally update its results, resulting in much lower running times. However, the manual construction of an incremental compiler is very hard and error prone and therefore usually not an option. Attribute grammars provide an attractive way of constructing compilers, as they are compositional in nature and allow for aspect oriented programming. In this work we extend previous work on the automatic generation of incremental attribute grammar evaluators, with the purpose of (semi-)automatically generating an incremental compiler from the regular attribute grammar definition, by adding support for incremental evaluation of higher order attributes, a well known extension to the classical attribute grammars that is used in many ways in compiler construction, for example to model different compiler phases.
Reversals in the perception of noise and tone patterns.

Perception of auditory patterns based on an intensity difference was investigated in 20 experienced normal‐hearing subjects under binaural and monaural listening conditions. Patterns were made up of either three white‐noise bursts or three 1000‐Hz tone bursts which were temporally spaced. Bursts within each pattern differed only in intensity and were either loud (L) or soft (S), i.e., each pattern included one of one intensity and two of the other. The six possible patterns were SLS, LSL, LLS, SSL, LSS, and SLL. The loud bursts remained at a constant intensity and the soft bursts were attenuated by either 9, 7, 5, or 3 dB. Patterns were presented at 50 dB sensation level. Tone‐burst patterns were easier to perceive and resulted in a larger number of correct responses than noise‐burst patterns. However, there was no significant difference between tone‐burst patterns and noise‐burst patterns in the percentage of errors that were pattern reversals. Symmetrical patterns were reversed more frequently than asym.
A review of EEG and ERP studies in bipolar disorder

Objective: The electroencephalogram (EEG) can be a useful tool in determining differences in general neural activity and specific waveforms in individuals with a number of psychiatric disorders. This paper aims to outline and discuss significant findings in EEG and event-related potential (ERP) research into bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: A literature review was performed through searches of MedLine, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo medical research databases for papers published from 1985 onwards. References of selected articles were also examined for other relevant studies. Results: Differences in general EEG data were found in subjects with BD, namely increased theta and delta and decreased alpha wave bands. Changes in EEG were also found in euthymic BD subjects and those undergoing medication programmes. ERP studies commonly report prolonged latencies and reduced amplitudes in the P300 component. Hyperfunctioning of the right hemisphere in BD was also reported in some studies, although further confirmation of this finding is required. Finally, the effects of medication and the role that genetics plays in EEG still remain unclear. Conclusions: The literature reviewed demonstrates supporting evidence for the presence of significant differences in EEG and ERP data in subjects with BD. However, methodological considerations such as varying mood states and medication status of the patients need to be followed more stringently for future research to bring about a robust model of the cognitive deficits of BD.
Structural Basis for Phosphorylation and Lysine Acetylation Cross-talk in a Kinase Motif Associated with Myocardial Ischemia and Cardioprotection*

Background: Myocardial ischemia and cardioprotection induce signal networks mediated by post-translational modification. Results: Phosphorylation sites altered by ischemia and/or cardioprotection were influenced by inhibition of lysine acetylation consistent with cross-talk. Conclusion: Lysine acetylation induces proximal dephosphorylation in a kinase motif by salt bridge inhibition. Significance: Cross-talk is likely to be an important aspect of signaling during ischemia and cardioprotection. Myocardial ischemia and cardioprotection by ischemic pre-conditioning induce signal networks aimed at survival or cell death if the ischemic period is prolonged. These pathways are mediated by protein post-translational modifications that are hypothesized to cross-talk with and regulate each other. Phosphopeptides and lysine-acetylated peptides were quantified in isolated rat hearts subjected to ischemia or ischemic pre-conditioning, with and without splitomicin inhibition of lysine deacetylation. We show lysine acetylation (acetyl-Lys)-dependent activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, AKT, and PKA kinases during ischemia. Phosphorylation and acetyl-Lys sites mapped onto tertiary structures were proximal in >50% of proteins investigated, yet they were mutually exclusive in 50 ischemic pre-conditioning- and/or ischemia-associated peptides containing the KXXS basophilic protein kinase consensus motif. Modifications in this motif were modeled in the C terminus of muscle-type creatine kinase. Acetyl-Lys increased proximal dephosphorylation by 10-fold. Structural analysis of modified muscle-type creatine kinase peptide variants by two-dimensional NMR revealed stabilization via a lysine-phosphate salt bridge, which was disrupted by acetyl-Lys resulting in backbone flexibility and increased phosphatase accessibility.