Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intestinal synthesis and secretion of bile salts as an adaptation to developmental biliary atresia in the sea lamprey

Bile salt synthesis is a specialized liver function in vertebrates. Bile salts play diverse roles in digestion and signaling, and their homeostasis is maintained by controlling input (biosynthesis) and intestinal conservation. Patients with biliary atresia (i.e., obliteration of the biliary tree) suffer liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In contrast, sea lamprey thrives despite developmental biliary atresia. We discovered that the sea lamprey adapts to biliary atresia through a unique mechanism of de novo synthesis and secretion of bile salts in intestine after developmental biliary atresia, in addition to known mechanisms, such as the reduction of bile salt synthesis in liver. During and after developmental biliary atresia, expression of cyp7a1 in intestine increased by more than 100-fold (P < 0.001), whereas in liver it decreased by the same magnitude (P < 0.001). Concurrently, bile salt pools changed in similar patterns and magnitudes in these two organs and the composition shifted from C24 bile alcohol sulfates to taurine-conjugated C24 bile acids. In addition, both in vivo and ex vivo experiments showed that aductular sea lamprey secreted taurocholic acid into its intestinal lumen. Our results indicate that the sea lamprey, a jawless vertebrate, may be in an evolutionarily transitional state where bile salt synthesis occurs in both liver and intestine. Understanding the molecular basis of these mechanisms may shed light on the evolution of bile salt synthesis and possible therapy for infant biliary atresia.
Mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein induces RGC-5 necroptosis following elevated hydrostatic pressure

Receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3) is an essential component of the necroptosis signaling pathway. Phosphorylation of its downstream target, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), has been proposed to induce necroptosis by initiating Ca2+ influx. Our previous studies have shown that RGC-5 retinal ganglion cells undergo RIP3-mediated necroptosis following elevated hydrostatic pressure (EHP). However, the molecular mechanism underlying necroptosis induction downstream of RIP3 is still not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of MLKL during EHP-induced necroptosis, and primarily explored the relationship between MLKL and Ca2+ influx. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of MLKL was increased 12 h after EHP. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of both RIP3 and MLKL were up-regulated 12 h after EHP, while inhibition of RIP3 by GSK'872 decreased the expression of phosphorylated MLKL at the same stage. Propidium iodide staining, lactate dehydrogenase release assays, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy revealed the increased necrosis of RGC-5 cells 12 h after EHP, which coincided with elevated cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ and siRNA-mediated silencing of MLKL significantly reduced EHP-induced necrosis. Both MLKL-specific siRNA and GSK'872 treatment diminished Ca2+ influx. Thus, our findings suggest that MLKL may be the key mediator of necroptosis downstream of RIP3 phosphorylation and may be involved in increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in EHP-induced RGC-5 necroptosis.
Decomposition of phosgene by microwave plasma-torch generated at atmospheric pressure

The microwave plasma-torch and its application for decomposition of chemical warfare agent using a moderate microwave power are investigated. Decomposition of chemical warfare agents is demonstrated for phosgene (COCl/sub 2/) as a sample example. The main byproducts of phosgene decomposition are CO and Cl/sub 2/. The Cl/sub 2/ gas was completely converted to HCl by injecting NH/sub 3/ into the microwave plasma-torch as an additive gas. The HCl is, in turn, eliminated by passing the exhaust gas through a wet-scrubber. Detailed decomposition properties of phosgene by microwave plasma-torch at the atmospheric pressure are also investigated by making use of Fourier transform infrared, mass spectroscopy, and ion chromatography.
Expression of proteins in superior and inferior spikelets of rice during grain filling under different irrigation regimes

Poor grain filling of later‐flowering inferior spikelets is a serious problem in modern rice cultivars, but the reason and regulation remain unclear. This study investigated post‐anthesis protein expression in relation with grain filling and the possibility to use irrigation methods to enhance grain filling through regulating protein expression. One japonica rice cultivar was field‐grown under three irrigation treatments imposed during the grain filling period: alternate wetting and moderate soil‐drying (WMD), alternate wetting and severe soil‐drying (WSD), and conventional irrigation. High resolution 2DE, combined with MALDI/TOF, was used to compare differential protein expression between superior and inferior spikelets. Results showed that the expression of proteins that function in photosynthesis, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, amino acids metabolism and defense responses were largely down‐regulated in inferior spikelets compared to those in superior spikelets. The WMD treatment enhanced grain filling rate and the expression of these proteins, whereas the WSD treatment decreased them. Similar results were observed for transcript levels of the genes encoding these proteins. These results suggest that down‐regulated expression of the proteins associated with grain filling contribute to the poor grain filling of inferior spikelets, and post‐anthesis WMD could improve grain filling through regulating protein expression in the spikelets.
Serologic and Virologic Survey for Evidence of Infection with Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus in Chinese Duck Farms

SUMMARY. A serologic and virologic survey was performed to determine the prevalence and distribution of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in Chinese duck flocks. NDV infection was detected in nine of the 12 sampled farms throughout the two geographic regions covered by the survey. The percentage antibody positivity among the 406 serum samples was 35.7%. Three velogenic NDVs were obtained from different duck flocks identified by hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition tests, a pathogenicity test, and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction on the fusion (F) genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all three isolates clustered with the class II viruses; two were phylogenetically close to genotype VII NDVs, and the other was more closely related to genotype IX NDVs. These findings suggest that NDV infections were prevalent, and at least two distinct virulent genotypes may be responsible for recent epidemics in Chinese duck flocks.
Derivatives Trading for Insurers

We investigate optimal strategies for a constant absolute risk aversion (CARA) insurer to manage its business risk through not only equity investment and proportional reinsurance but also trading derivatives of the equity. We obtain the optimal strategies in closed-form and quantify the value of derivatives trading by means of certainty-equivalence. Some numerical examples and sensitivity analysis are presented to illustrate our theoretical results. Our numerical results show that, unlike standard CRRA investors, the gain from trading derivatives to a CARA insurer is small and the insurer needs to expose itself to a relatively large position to fully enjoy the gain.
L-Cysteine protects intestinal integrity, attenuates intestinal inflammation and oxidant stress, and modulates NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways in weaned piglets after LPS challenge

*Ze he Song and Guo Tong are co-first authors. In this study we investigated whether L-cysteine (L-cys) could alleviate LPS-induced intestinal disruption and its underlying mechanism. Piglets fed with an L-cys-supplemented diet had higher average daily gain. L-cys alleviated LPS-induced structural and functional disruption of intestine in weanling piglets, as demonstrated by higher villus height, villus height (VH) to crypt depth (CD) ratio, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and lower FITC-dextran 4 (FD4) kDa flux in jejunum and ileum. Supplementation with L-cys up-regulated occludin and claudin-1 expression, reduced caspase-3 activity and enhanced proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression of jejunum and ileum relative to LPS group. Additionally, L-cys suppressed the LPS-induced intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, as demonstrated by down-regulated TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels, increased catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity, glutathione (GSH) contents and the ratio of GSH and oxidized glutathione in jejunum and ileum. Finally, a diet supplemented with L-cys inhibited NF-κB(p65) nuclear translocation and elevated NF erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) translocation compared with the LPS group. Collectively, our results indicated the protective function of L-cys on intestinal mucosa barrier may closely associated with its anti-inflammation, antioxidant and regulating effect on the NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways.
Abnormal type I collagen metabolism by cultured fibroblasts in lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from seven consecutive cases of lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) expressed defects of type I collagen metabolism. The secretion of [14C]proline-labelled collagen by the OI cells was specifically reduced (51-79% of control), and collagen degradation was increased to twice that of control cells in five cases and increased by approx. 30% in the other two cases. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed that four of the OI cell lines produced two forms of type I collagen consisting of both normally and slowly migrating forms of the alpha 1(I)- and alpha 2(I)-chains. In the other three OI cell lines only the 'slow' alpha (I)'- and alpha 2(I)'-chains were detected. In both groups inhibition of the post-translational modifications of proline and lysine resulted in the production of a single species of type I collagen with normal electrophoretic migration. Proline hydroxylation was normal, but the hydroxylysine contents of alpha 1(I)'- and alpha 2(I)'-chains purified by h.p.l.c. were greater than in control alpha-chains. The glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine content was increased approx. 3-fold while the galactosylhydroxylysine content was only slightly increased in the alpha 1(I)'-chains relative to control alpha 1(I)-chains. Peptide mapping of the CNBr-cleavage peptides provided evidence that the increased post-translational modifications were distributed throughout the alpha 1(I)'- and alpha 2(I)'-chains. It is postulated that the greater modification of these chains was due to structural defects of the alpha-chains leading to delayed helix formation. The abnormal charge heterogeneity observed in the alpha 1 CB8 peptide of one patient may reflect such a structural defect in the type I collagen molecule.
APDbase: Amino acid Physicochemical properties Database

Physico-chemical properties of amino acids can be used to study protein sequence profiles, folding and function. We collated 242 properties for the 20 naturally occurring amino acids and created a dataset. The dataset is available as a database named APDbase( Amino acid Physico-chemical properties Data base). The database can be queried using either key words describing physico-chemical properties or pre-assigned database index number. The database contains corresponding references for each property value and facilitates deposition of new property values for processing and inclusion in the database. Availability The database is available for free at http://www.rfdn. org/bioinfo/APDbase.php
Induction of a th1-type of immune response but not protective immunity by intramuscular DNA immunisation with Brucella abortus GroEL heat-shock gene.

The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding the GroEL heat-shock gene from Brucella abortus was tested in BALB/c mice immunised by intramuscular (i.m.) needle injection or epidermally by gene gun. The Brucella GroEL gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into two different mammalian expression vectors pCMV-link and pCMV-tPA. The D17 cell line was transfected with both constructs and GroEL transcripts were detected by Northern blot. To determine the level of protein synthesised, transfected cell lysates were then submitted to Western blot. The non-secreted form of the recombinant GroEL produced by the pCMV-link construct was detected in much greater amount than the secreted form of the protein produced by the pCMV-tPA construct. After immunisation, a strong anti-GroEL IgG response was detected in mice vaccinated by i.m. injection or gene gun only when the pCMV-link/ GroEL plasmid was used. Regarding the pattern of immune response induced, i.m. needle injection raised a predominantly Th1 response with mostly IgG2a-specific anti-GroEL and high levels of IFN-gamma produced by splenic T cells. Gene gun immunisation induced a ThO type of immune response in mice characterised by a high IgG1/IgG2a ratio, and IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma production. Even though a distinct pattern of immune response was generated depending upon the immunisation route used, neither method engendered a significant level of protection with the GroEL DNA vaccine.
T1 measurements in cell cultures: A new tool for characterizing contrast agents at 1.5T

The objective of this work was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of T1 and relaxivity measurements in cell cultures using 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the long‐term goal to develop a tool for evaluation of novel paramagnetic agents in a realistic macromolecular environment. This initial study was carried out using MCF‐7 cells treated with independently determined concentrations of Gd‐DTPA. Two cell culture systems were evaluated: cell pellets and single layers of cells grown on microporous inserts. High‐resolution T1 measurements of cell cultures were acquired with two dimensional Inversion Recovery Fast Spin Echo (2D‐IR‐FSE), three dimensional Inversion Recovery Fast Spin Echo (3D‐IR‐FSE), and 3D‐SPGR sequences. The T1 and relaxivity accuracy of these sequences was confirmed with aqueous Gd‐DTPA samples of known concentration. Relaxivities of 1.71 ± 0.15 [mM−1second−1] and 1.55 ± 0.50 [mM−1second−1] were measured in the cell pellets and cell monolayers, respectively, and were different from the value of 4.3 [mM−1second−1] for Gd‐DTPA in water. Both cell pellets and monolayers are suitable for initial assessment of novel MR contrast agents. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:636–648. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cognitive dysfunction is worse among pediatric patients with bipolar disorder Type I than Type II.

BACKGROUND Impaired profiles of neurocognitive function have been consistently demonstrated among pediatric patients with bipolar disorder (BD), and may aid in the identification of endophenotypes across subtypes of the disorder. This study aims to determine phenotypic cognitive profiles of patients with BD Type I and II. METHODS Subjects (N = 79) consisted of BD I (n = 27) and BD II (n = 19) patients and demographic and intellectually matched healthy controls (HC; n = 33) that completed a battery of neurocognitive tasks. RESULTS Bipolar disorder Type I patients performed significantly more poorly compared to HC on all domains of cognitive function including attention, executive function, working memory, visual memory, and verbal learning and memory. BD I patients also performed more poorly compared to BD II patients on all domains of cognitive functioning with the exception of working memory, whereas BD II patients did poorly relative to HC only on verbal learning and memory. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the current study indicate that BD I patients are characterized by more severe cognitive impairment relative to BD II patients who show an intermediate pattern of performance between BD I patients and HC. Verbal learning and memory may effectively differentiate pediatric BD patients and controls, regardless of the subtype of BD, and may serve as a cognitive endophenotype for the disorder. Additionally, these findings move us closer to developing effective cognitive interventions tailored to specific subtypes of pediatric BD patients.
Predicting female depression across puberty: a two-nation longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE To prospectively examine the relation between pubertal stage and the onset and course of depressive symptoms. METHOD The design was a three-wave longitudinal study of health and social development using statewide community samples in Washington, United States, and Victoria, Australia. Approximately 5,769 students initially ages 10 to 15 years were assessed for depressive symptoms with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Pubertal status was assessed using a self-report version of the Pubertal Development Scale. RESULTS Advancing pubertal stage carried higher risks for depressive symptoms in female subjects in all of the three study waves. The pubertal rise in female depressive symptoms was due to both higher risk for incident cases and an even greater effect on risks for persistence of depressive symptoms. Report of poor emotional control 12 months earlier carried a twofold higher risk for incident depressive symptoms and largely explained the pubertal rise in female incident cases. High family conflict and severity of bullying also predicted persistence of depressive symptoms. Preexisting depressive symptoms were not associated with later increases in the rate of pubertal transition. CONCLUSIONS Advancing pubertal stage carries risks for both the onset and persistence of depressive symptoms in females. Social adversity around puberty predicts the persistence of symptoms but does not account for a pubertal rise in female depression. A report of poor emotional control may be a useful marker of girls at risk for depressive symptoms and as a target for preventive intervention.
Determination of the corona inception voltage in an extra high voltage substation connector

Substation connectors play a key role in the reliability of power transmission systems. Despite this fact, their behavior has been rarely studied, especially in regard to electric stress. In this study the corona inception voltage of a complex-shaped 765 kV substation connector is calculated by using a three-dimensional finite-element approach combined with the semi-empirical Pedersen approach. The method proposed was previously validated by using available experimental data obtained from sphere-to-plane, concentric cylinders and point-to-plane non-uniform air gaps. To further validate the accuracy of this method, the corona inception voltage of the analyzed substation connector was obtained by making comparisons with experimental tests conducted in a high voltage laboratory. Results show the need to calculate the corona inception voltage for complex geometries and large air gaps. Using this proposed approach allows us to identify peak or stress points of the connector surface. Hence, this system strongly appears to be a valuable tool to assist the design process of substation connectors and other high voltage devices for minimizing corona activity.
Development and demonstration of RNA isolation and RT–PCR procedures to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 gene expression on beef carcass surfaces

Preventing the development of pathogen resistance to processing and preservation techniques will require an understanding of the genetic mechanisms that pathogens use in situ to adapt and develop tolerance to stresses they encounter in the food environment. RNA isolation and reverse‐transcription (RT)–PCR protocols were developed as tools to detect gene expression in bacteria on beef carcass surfaces. The utility of these procedures was demonstrated by detecting the expression of a selectively‐inducible green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in a plasmid‐transformed strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto beef carcass surface tissue. These procedures should serve as useful tools for studying the genetic responses of bacteria when exposed to antimicrobial interventions applied to food animal carcasses.
Endoglin Expression Is Regulated by Transcriptional Cooperation between the Hypoxia and Transforming Growth Factor-β Pathways*

Endoglin is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) co-receptor expressed mainly on endothelial cells and involved in cardiovascular development, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. This is illustrated by the fact that mutations in the endoglin gene give rise to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1, a dominant vascular disease with clinical manifestations that originate by a mechanism of haploinsufficiency. Thus, studies on the regulated expression of endoglin are crucial to devising therapeutic strategies for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1. Endoglin is highly expressed in the neovasculature associated with hypoxia such as ischemic tissues and tumors, but the molecular mechanism of this up-regulation is unknown. Here, we have investigated the possible regulation of endoglin expression by hypoxia. Surface protein, transcript, and promoter activity levels of endoglin were found to be up-regulated by hypoxia, indicating that the regulation takes place at the transcriptional level. A hypoxia-responsive element downstream of the main transcription start site of the endoglin gene was functionally characterized. Whereas hypoxia alone moderately stimulated endoglin transcription, addition of TGF-β under hypoxic conditions resulted in transcriptional cooperation between both signaling pathways, leading to marked stimulation of endoglin expression. Because basal endoglin transcription is sustained by Sp1, and TGF-β and hypoxia signaling pathways are mediated by Smad proteins and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), respectively, the involvement of these transcription factors was analyzed. Functional and co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated the existence of a multiprotein complex (Sp1·Smad3·HIF-1) on the endoglin promoter, mediating the cooperation between the hypoxia and TGF-β pathways. Within this multiprotein complex, Smad3 appears to function not only as a coactivator factor, but also as an adaptor between HIF-1 and Sp1. We propose that basal endoglin transcription (highly dependent on Sp1) may switch from a constitutive to an inducible state through Sp1 interaction with HIF-1 and Smad transcription factors, induced by hypoxia and TGF-β, respectively.
Rights, health and power: A critical social analysis of the reproductive health and rights discourse.

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