Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ORF49 Protein of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Cooperates with RTA in Regulating Virus Replication

ABSTRACT Our functional mapping study of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68, or γHV-68) revealed that a mutant harboring a transposon at the ORF49 locus (ORF49null) evidenced a highly attenuated in vitro growth. ORF49 resides adjacent to and in an opposite direction from RTA, the primary switch of the gammaherpesvirus life cycle. A FLAG-tagged ORF49 protein was able to transcomplement ORF49null, and a revertant of ORF49null restored its attenuated growth to a level comparable to that of the wild type. The FLAG-tagged ORF49 protein promoted the ability of RTA to activate downstream target promoters and enhanced virus replication from the ORF50null virus in the presence of RTA. Furthermore, ORF49 enhanced wild-type virus replication by increasing the RTA transcript levels. Our data indicate that ORF49 may perform an important function in MHV-68 replication in cooperation with RTA.
Characteristic Mode Formulation for Dielectric Coated Conducting Bodies

In this paper, characteristic mode (CM) formulations are developed from surface integral equation (SIE) for the modal analysis of dielectric coated conducting bodies. The electric field integral equation-Poggio, Miller, Chang, Harrington, Wu, and Tsai SIE is used for modeling the dielectric coated conducting bodies. By ensuring the field continuity on the interface boundary, two types of generalized eigenvalues equations are formulated to determine the resonant behavior of the dielectric coated conducting bodies. Following Poynting’s theorem, the resultant eigenvalues indicate the ratio of the imaginary and real part of the complex power for each CM. Zero eigenvalues indicate the resonance in dielectric coated conducting bodies. The corresponding modal fields provide with clear physical insights into the radiation/scattering mechanisms. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed CM formulations.
Taxonomy of faculty assumptions about students

If you are part of a faculty meeting, a committee, or a learning community of instructors, you will sooner or later hear the same conversation - the conversation that begins with complaints about students. The attributions about lack of engagement, focus on grades, or the entitlement of this generation are common, and though typically unexamined such complaints are not completely ungrounded. This narrative creates a community around a shared “problem. ” This camaraderie is natural, but what are the consequences? Beyond whether such statements are “true,” we believe these assumptions about students are affecting student learning. There is a phenomenon in education known as “self-fulfilling prophesy” where what we believe about students becomes manifest in part because instructors behave in ways that bring about what the instructor initially expects. As a first step in exploring these assumptions, 150 participants in a Teaching Professor Conference in May 2014, generated a list of assumptions they held about students. These assumptions were categorized into four dimensions: Motivation, Behavior, Preparation, and Systems with each dimension having a continuum. This paper describes the taxonomy and references theories to support the organization. The paper will give examples of the assumptions and discuss the next steps to validate the ideas.
Green fluorescent protein expression and colocalization with calretinin, parvalbumin, and somatostatin in the GAD67‐GFP knock‐in mouse

γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the central nervous system regulate the activity of other neurons and play a crucial role in information processing. To assist an advance in the research of GABAergic neurons, here we produced two lines of glutamic acid decarboxylase–green fluorescence protein (GAD67‐GFP) knock‐in mouse. The distribution pattern of GFP‐positive somata was the same as that of the GAD67 in situ hybridization signal in the central nervous system. We encountered neither any apparent ectopic GFP expression in GAD67‐negative cells nor any apparent lack of GFP expression in GAD67‐positive neurons in the two GAD67‐GFP knock‐in mouse lines. The timing of GFP expression also paralleled that of GAD67 expression. Hence, we constructed a map of GFP distribution in the knock‐in mouse brain. Moreover, we used the knock‐in mice to investigate the colocalization of GFP with NeuN, calretinin (CR), parvalbumin (PV), and somatostatin (SS) in the frontal motor cortex. The proportion of GFP‐positive cells among NeuN‐positive cells (neocortical neurons) was approximately 19.5%. All the CR‐, PV‐, and SS‐positive cells appeared positive for GFP. The CR‐, PV, and SS‐positive cells emitted GFP fluorescence at various intensities characteristics to them. The proportions of CR‐, PV‐, and SS‐positive cells among GFP‐positive cells were 13.9%, 40.1%, and 23.4%, respectively. Thus, the three subtypes of GABAergic neurons accounted for 77.4% of the GFP‐positive cells. They accounted for 6.5% in layer I. In accord with unidentified GFP‐positive cells, many medium‐sized spherical somata emitting intense GFP fluorescence were observed in layer I. J. Comp. Neurol. 467:60–79, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Origin and characteristics of glycogen cells in the developing murine placenta

The junctional zone (Jz) of the mouse placenta consists of two main trophoblast populations, spongiotrophoblasts and glycogen cells (GCs), but the development and function of both cell types are unknown. We conducted a quantitative analysis of GC size, number, and invasion of cells into the decidua across gestation. Furthermore, we identified markers of GC function to investigate their possible roles in the placenta. While the spongiotrophoblast cell volume doubles, and cell number increases steadily from E12.5 to E16.5, there is a remarkable 80‐fold increase in GC numbers. This finding is followed by a notable decrease by E18.5. Surprisingly, the accumulation of GCs in the decidua did not fully account for the decrease in GC number in the Jz, suggesting loss of GCs from the placenta. Glucagons were detected on GCs, suggesting a steady glucose release throughout gestation. Connexin31 staining was shown to be specific for GCs. GC migration and invasion may be facilitated by temporally regulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and the imprinted gene product, Decorin. Expression of the clearance receptor for type II insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐II), IGF2R, in a short developmental window before E16.5 may be associated with regulating the growth effects of IGF‐II from glycogen cells and/or labyrinthine trophoblast on the expansion of the Jz. Thus stereology and immunohistochemistry have provided useful insights into Jz development and function of the glycogen cells. Developmental Dynamics 235:3280–3294, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
People at risk of schizophrenia

Background The Edinburgh High-Risk Study is designed to explore the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Aims To establish the sample characteristics of the first 100 subjects in this study of young adults at risk of schizophrenia for genetic reasons, and to compare them with appropriate controls. Method Details of the recruitment of the first 100 high-risk subjects aged 16–25 years into a prospective Scotland-wide study are given. Subjects and 30 age- and gender-matched normal controls were interviewed using the PSE, SADS-L and SIS and an unstructured psychiatric interview. Results Some significant differences emerged between the high-risk group and the control group, namely in previous psychiatric history (31 v. 6.3%), forensic contacts (19 v. 3.1%) and delinquent behaviour (20 v. 3.1%). There were also differences in some parameters from the SIS: childhood social isolation, interpersonal sensitivity, social isolation, suicidal ideation, restricted affect, oddness and disordered speech. Conclusions These differences may represent increased risk of developing schizophrenia although their true significance will not be revealed until the cohort has been followed through the at-risk years.
1-(5-Oxohexyl)-3,7-Dimethylxanthine, a Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor, Activates MAPK Cascades and Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation by a Mechanism Independent of PKA Activation (Pentoxyfilline Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation).

We have investigated the effect of 1-(5-oxohexyl)-3,7-dimethylxanthine or pentoxifylline (PeTx), a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro by using two mesenchymal cell lines, C3H10T1/2 and C2C12, which are able to acquire the osteoblastic phenotype in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). PeTx induced the osteoblastic markers, osteocalcin and Osf2/Cbfa1, in C3H10T1/2 and C2C12 cells and enhanced BMP-2-induced expression of osteocalcin, Osf2/Cbfa1, and alkaline phosphatase. This activity was partially attributed to the fact that PeTx is able to enhance BMP-2-induced Smad1 transcriptional activity. Although PeTx clearly stimulates PKA in these cells, neither pretreatment of cells with the PKA inhibitor H89 nor transfection with the specific PKA inhibitor PKI prevented the induction or enhancement of osteoblast markers by PeTx, demonstrating that these effects were independent of PKA activation. On the other hand, PeTx induced the activation of ERK1.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) EMDR and the anxiety disorders : exploring the current status

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Predictors of discharge destination from acute care in patients with traumatic brain injury

Introduction Many studies have assessed the predictors of morbidity/mortality of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in acute care. However, with the increasing rate of survival after TBI, more attention has been given to discharge destinations from acute care as an important measure of clinical priorities. This study describes the design of a systematic review compiling and synthesising studies on the prognostic factors of discharge settings from acute care in patients with TBI. Methods and analysis This systematic review will be conducted on peer-reviewed studies using seven databases including Medline/Medline in-Process, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Supplemental PubMed. The reference list of selected articles and Google Scholar will also be reviewed to determine other relevant articles. This study will include all English language observational studies that focus on adult patients with TBI in acute care settings. The quality of articles will be assessed by the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. Ethics and dissemination The results of this review will provide evidence that may guide healthcare providers in making more informed and timely discharge decisions to the next level of care for patient with TBI. Also, this study will provide valuable information to address the gaps in knowledge for future research. Trial registration number Trial registration number (PROSPERO) is CRD42016033046.
Impact of Power Supply Voltage Variations on FPGA-Based Digital Systems Performance

Power Supply Noise (PSN) may be induced by environmental or operational conditions, and has impact on digital systems performance. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) vendors "hide" this effect, by offering more conservative performance specifications, so that users do not have to worry about it. The purpose of this paper is to characterize the impact of power supply voltage disturbances on signal propagation delays of digital circuits implemented in FPGA. Element and path propagation delay variation models for FPGAs are proposed, based on similar models previously proposed by the authors for ASIC designs. Model accuracy (in the order of 1 % deviation) is demonstrated by experimental results obtained with three FPGA development boards, using 65 nm FPGA devices. The proposed models allow designers to estimate the FPGA core supply voltage variation range for which correct functionality still holds, for a given operating clock frequency. Moreover, the proposed models can be used to implement time borrowing techniques in FPGA-based designs, by identifying signal critical paths and delaying signal capture in memory elements terminating the longest paths.
Milk intake and risk of hip fracture in men and women: A meta‐analysis of prospective cohort studies

Milk contains calcium, phosphorus, and protein and is fortified with vitamin D in the United States. All these ingredients may improve bone health. However, the potential benefit of milk on hip fracture prevention is not well established. The objective of this study was to assess the association of milk intake with risk of hip fracture based on a meta‐analysis of cohort studies in middle‐aged or older men and women. Data sources for this study were English and non‐English publications via Medline (Ovid, PubMed) and EMBASE search up to June 2010, experts in the field, and reference lists. The idea was to compare prospective cohort studies on the same scale so that we could calculate the relative risk (RR) of hip fracture per glass of milk intake daily (approximately 300 mg calcium per glass of milk). Pooled analyses were based on random effects models. The data were extracted by two independent observers. The results show that in women (6 studies, 195,102 women, 3574 hip fractures), there was no overall association between total milk intake and hip fracture risk (pooled RR per glass of milk per day = 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96–1.02; Q‐test p = .37). In men (3 studies, 75,149 men, 195 hip fractures), the pooled RR per daily glass of milk was 0.91 (95% CI 0.81–1.01). Our conclusion is that in our meta‐analysis of cohort studies, there was no overall association between milk intake and hip fracture risk in women but that more data are needed in men. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions in China: A Test of the Free Cash Flow Hypothesis

This research investigates whether Chinese cross-border investments have positive impact on shareholders wealth and whether the amount of bidders’ free cash flow influences the shareholder returns resulted from the acquisitions. The sample is based on 77 top Chinese cross-border investments during the years 2005-2009 with each deal value of minimum US$100 million. The assessments of acquisition abnormal returns are based on the event study methodology (Brown & Warner, 1985). Cross-sectional regression analysis is used to determine the bidding firms factors which significantly affect the returns. Factors are examined using OLS with White’s heteroscedasticity-corrected standard errors, since the assumption of homoscedasticity is likely to be violated. The study proves Chinese cross- border acquisitions result in positive abnormal returns which is consistent with synergy hypothesis. The amount of bidders’ free cash flow is also found to be marginally but positively associated with shareholders return which is consistent with Myers and Majluf’s pecking order hypothesis but unsupportive of Jensen’s free cash flow hypothesis.
Assessing Sociability, Social Memory, and Pup Retrieval in Mice

Adaptive social behavior is important in mammals, both for the well‐being of the individual and for the thriving of the species. Dysfunctions in social behavior occur in many neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases, and research into the genetic components of disease‐relevant social deficits can open up new avenues for understanding the underlying biological mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Genetically modified mouse models are particularly useful in this respect, and robust experimental protocols are needed to reliably assess relevant social behavior phenotypes. Here we describe in detail three protocols to quantitatively measure sociability, one of the most frequently investigated social behavior phenotypes in mice, using a three‐chamber sociability test. These protocols can be extended to also assess social memory. In addition, we provide a detailed protocol on pup retrieval, which is a particularly robust maternal behavior amenable to various scientific questions. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Contrasting in Vivo Effects of Murine and Human Apolipoprotein A-II

The role of apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) in high density lipoprotein (HDL) structure and metabolism has been studied previously in transgenic mice overexpressing either human or murine apoA-II. These studies have shown differences between these two groups of transgenic animals in the levels of very low density, low density, and high density lipoproteins, in the HDL particle size distribution, and in the relationship between apoA-II levels and lipoprotein levels. To determine whether these differences are due to the fact that human apoA-II is dimeric and murine apoA-II monomeric, we have examined the effects of monomeric human apoA-II (hA-II) in transgenic mice. Site-directed mutagenesis (Cys6 Ser) was used to generate 15 transgenic founder lines of hA-II mice, that contained plasma hA-II concentrations over a 10-fold range (11 mg/dl to 185 mg/dl). The hA-II floated in the d ≤ 1.21 g/ml fraction and migrated as an apoA-II monomer by nonreducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. HDL levels were not correlated with hA-II levels (r = −0.26); HDL particle size and size distribution, as well as very low density and low density lipoprotein levels and sizes, were unchanged compared to nontransgenic control mice. These results suggest that differences between mice overexpressing human dimeric apoA-II and those overexpressing murine apoA-II are the result of sequence differences between these two apoA-II molecules and are not solely due to the fact that human apoA-II exists as a dimer.
Hershberger Assay for Antiandrogenic Effects of Phthalates

The antiandrogenic effects of seven phthalates, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), di-n-heptyl phthalate (DnHP), and mono-2-ethyhexyl phthalate (MEHP), were investigated by Hershberger assay in castrated male SD rats. An androgen agonist, testosterone (0.4 mg/kg/d), was administered for 10 consecutive days by subcutaneous (sc) injection as a positive control. Additionally, 20, 100, or 500 mg/kg body weight (bw)/d of 6 phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, or DnHP) or 10, 50, or 250 mg/kg bw/d of MEHP, the primary metabolite of DEHP, were also administered orally in combination with testosterone (0.4 mg/kg/d, sc) for 10 consecutive days, respectively. In the testosterone-treated groups, glans penis, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, and levator ani/bulbocavernosus muscles (LABC) weights were found to be significantly increased. Ventral prostate weights were significantly decreased in animals treated with DEHP or DBP at doses of 20 mg/kg bw/d or above, 500 mg/kg bw/d DIDP, and 250 mg/kg bw/d MEHP. Seminal vesicles weights were also significantly decreased by DEHP at > 100 mg/kg bw/d, DINP at > 20 mg/kg bw/d, DIDP at 500 mg/kg bw/d, or MEHP at 50 or 250 mg/kg bw/d, respectively. In addition, LABC weights were decreased by DEHP at 500 mg/kg bw/d, DINP at 500 mg/kg bw/d, and MEHP at 50 or 100 mg/kg bw/d. These data suggest that some phthalates possess antiandrogenic activity, and that multiple cross-talk between androgen, estrogen, and steroid hormone receptors occurs.
Role of new anticoagulants for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after major orthopaedic surgery and in hospitalised acutely ill medical patients

Summary Anticoagulation therapy for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events is indicated in patients after major orthopaedic surgery and in hospitalised acutely ill medical patients, who have a high or moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), respectively. Clinical trials have clearly demonstrated that short-term anticoagulation reduces the risk of VTE in these patient groups and that longer-term anticoagulation is beneficial for some indications. Evidence-based guidelines for throm-boprophylaxis have been developed based on these studies. However, despite these guidelines, thromboprophylaxis is still underused, or used suboptimally, in many patients. This is, in part, because of the limitations of traditional anticoagulants such as unfractionated heparin, lowmolecular-weight heparin, synthetic pentasaccharides, and vitamin K antagonists. Newer oral anticoagulants, such as rivaroxaban, apixaban, and dabigatran etexilate, have certain advantages over traditional agents. They can be administered orally at a fixed dose without routine coagulation monitoring and have minimal food and drug interactions. These characteristics may result in better adherence to guidelines and improved patient outcomes. This review provides an overview of phase III clinical trial data for these newer anticoagulants in major orthopaedic surgery and in hospitalised acutely ill medical patients, and discusses their potential for extended use in the post-hospital discharge setting. All three newer oral anticoagulants are approved in many countries for the prevention of VTE after hip replacement or knee replacement surgery in adult patients, and it is likely that these drugs will contribute considerably towards reducing the substantial healthcare burden associated with VTE.
Reduced Oxidative Stress in Hypoalbuminemic CAPD Patients

Objective Albumin is one of the plasma antioxidants. The higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients with hypoalbuminemia may be related to decreased antioxidant capacity resulting from low serum albumin. We evaluated malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in relation to serum albumin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional study, we measured MDA, TAC, albumin, uric acid (another important plasma antioxidant), prealbumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood of 66 CAPD patients and 30 normal controls. Twenty-two CAPD patients with albumin less than or equal to 3.5 g/dL were divided into two groups: In the experimental group (n = 11), MDA, TAC, and CRP were measured before and after repeated infusion of 20% albumin 100 mL daily for 7 days. In the control group (n = 11), the same parameters were measured without albumin infusion. Results CAPD patients had lower albumin and higher MDA, TAC, and uric acid than normal controls. There were positive correlations between albumin and TAC or uric acid in CAPD patients. Contrary to our expectation, there was also positive correlation between albumin and MDA in CAPD patients (r = 0.37, p = 0.004). MDA showed a positive correlation with TAC. Uric acid was correlated with TAC. It did not, however, show correlation with MDA. Log CRP was negatively correlated with albumin, but did not show correlation with MDA or TAC. Prealbumin was correlated with MDA, TAC, albumin, and uric acid. Serum albumin in the experimental group increased from 2.5 ± 0.3 g/dL to 3.6 ± 0.2 g/dL (p < 0.001) at the end of repeated infusions. No changes were seen in MDA, TAC, and CRP in either group. Conclusions The present study suggests that lipid peroxidation is increased in CAPD patients and that this is not due to weakening of antioxidant defenses of plasma. Increased TAC was mainly caused by a higher level of uric acid. Reduced, rather than increased, MDA in hypoalbuminemic patients and lack of effects of albumin infusion on levels of MDA suggest that the frequent occurrence of cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients with hypoalbuminemia is not due to the decrease in antioxidant capacity resulting from low serum albumin.