Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Simian Virus 40 Transcription: Sensitive Analysis of the RNA Species Present Early in Infections by Virus or Viral DNA

We have examined the discrete species of simian virus 40 (SV40) RNA present very early in infection of monkey cells with wild-type virus, with mutant tsA58 virus, and with the corresponding DNAs to distinguish between two classes of models for control of late transcription: (i) positive control mediated by large-T antigen and (ii) negative control mediated by a repressor protein associated with viral DNA in the virion. Total cytoplasmic or nuclear polyadenylated RNAs from infected cells were denatured with glyoxal, separated by electrophoresis on agarose gels, and transferred to diazobenzyloxymethyl paper. The positions of specific early and late RNA species were determined with region-specific SV40 DNA probes. The technique can detect individual RNAs present at the level of less than one copy per cell. After 9.5 h at 37°C, appreciable amounts of two early RNAs (2.6 kilobases [kb] and 2.9 kb) were present in the cytoplasm of cells infected with wild-type virus or DNA, along with much smaller amounts of two late RNAs, 1.6 kb (16S) and 2.5 kb (19S). The amounts of the late RNAs were reduced, but they were still synthesized in the presence of cytosine arabinoside, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. In comparable infections with tsA58 virus or DNA at nonpermissive temperature (41°C), substantial amounts of the two early RNAs were again present, but the two late RNAs could not be detected. However, small amounts of the late RNAs were found when infections with tsA58 virus or DNA were prolonged to 30 h at 41°C. These results are not consistent with negative control of late transcription through the action of a repressor and, taken together with other data, suggest that T antigen has an active role in late RNA synthesis. Specific early and late viral RNAs were also detected in the nuclear poly(A)+ fractions and were similar in size to the RNA species found in the cytoplasmic polyadenylated fractions. The late nuclear RNAs (1.8 and 2.9 kb) were significantly larger than the late cytoplasmic species, possibly because they are precursors. The 2.6- and 2.9-kb early RNAs found in the cytoplasm are probably the messengers for large-T and small-t antigens, respectively.
Cell Motility and the Problem of Anatomical Homeostasis*

SUMMARY The locomotion of tissue cells need not be invasive or disrupt normal tissue geometry, as occurs in cancer. The normal relationship between anatomical structure and cell locomotion is exactly the reverse, with motility serving to create and maintain the structures of the body. This relationship is most extreme in sponges, where time-lapse films show that the cells move about continually in patterns that restructure these animals’ simple anatomy. The cells choose their position according to their differentiated cell type, which is the opposite of what is usually assumed to occur in development and has important implications for the functional significance of histotypic cell sorting. A particular type of cellular force that seems to be important in morphogenesis is the traction that all motile tissue cells exert. This traction can be studied by culturing cells on very thin sheets of silicone rubber, so that the locations and variations in the cellular forces are made visible by the wrinkles they produce in the rubber substratum. One finding has been that the traction forces exerted by untransformed fibroblasts are very much stronger than is needed for their own locomotion, but are well adapted for the function of rearranging and aligning collagen fibres to form structures like ligaments, tendons and muscles. These forces are found to be greatly weakened by neoplastic transformation, however, suggesting that malignant invasiveness results from some sort of deflection of cell traction forces from their proper morphogenetic functions, so as to produce uncontrolled invasion. To explain how motile cells create and maintain structures, as well as how their locomotion sometimes becomes perverted into the form of cancerous invasiveness, what seems to be needed is an extension of the concept of homeostasis to apply to the control of geometric relations between cells. This task may not be easy; one obstacle is the widespread belief that asymptotic stability implies the minimization of free energy. Instead, I suggest that stability results from balance of opposing forces within tissues, and that genes control which anatomical shapes will exist by determining the rules by which the relative strengths of these forces vary as functions of shape: to control shape, one must control the way forces vary with shape.
Protective circuitry developments related to MOSFET protection setup to the occurrence of electrostatic discharge phenomenon

Dealing with microelectronic industry, the Electrostatic Discharge has a significant importance regarding the failures related to the solid state devices. The paper is focused on software applications concerning the effects of electrostatic discharges on MOSFET integrated circuitry, using a dedicated computational program. We considered in our approach, some different electronic components with electrostatic discharge protective properties. Our research is useful in electronic domain to select the most adequate electronic equipments, in order to treat and reduce the effects of electrostatic discharges.
27 Stress and EEG

Many people suffer from stress in their everyday life. While there is a close relationship between stress and mental health, psychological stress (and associated emotions such as anger, anxiety, and depression), can also have effects on physical health. Indeed, chronic psychological stress can change the responsiveness of central-peripheral regulatory systems (Fuchs & Fluegee 1995; Fuchs, Uno, & Fluegge 1995), potentially rendering them less efficient or adaptive in terms of supporting health. Conditions such as chronic stress, depression, and anxiety have been found to be associated with abnormal autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning (Cohen et al., 2000; Hughes & Stoney 2000). Accordingly, stress is one of the major factors contributing to chronic disorders (Decker et al., 1996; Lawrence & Kim 2000). Stress also influences the desire to work, performance at work, and one’s general attitude toward life (NIOSH, 1999). Within the industry sector, higher stress levels and stress-related disease lead to decrease in company performance and increase in medical expenses (Cooper, 1996; Manning, et al., 1996). In 2008 in Korea, there were 1,967 deaths associated with occupational cases. Almost half of these deaths (974, or 49.5%) could be ascribed to heart or brain blood vessel disease (Ministry of Labor, 2008). This is not surprising given that stress is implicated in 75% of all heart and brain blood vessel diseases (Belkic, et al., 2004). It is thus apparent that stress can increase social and economic losses and decrease a country’s competitiveness (Driskell & Salas, 1996). Therefore, precautionary measures to reduce stress and adequate management of this condition are essential for both individual health and the welfare of society at a broader level. This chapter reports on relationships among psychological stress, the EEG (Electroencephalogram), ECG, and salivary cortisol in people suffering from chronic stress. We hypothesized that chronic stress will have negative effects on the central-ANS and physiological responsiveness. There are many bio-signal channels by which stress can be potentially quantified, including ECG, EEG, and the skin conductance response (SCR) (Kohlish & Schaefer 1996; Gevins et al., 1998). Even so, determining the stress level of any given individual can be difficult. Related to this is debate concerning the extent to which the EEG can be used to reliably measure stress. However, this chapter presents data showing that there are significant correlations between EEG measures and other indices of stress, including the ECG and salivary cortisol. Also, it revealed relationships between high beta Source: Convergence and Hybrid Information Technologies, Book edited by: Marius Crisan, ISBN 978-953-307-068-1, pp. 426, March 2010, INTECH, Croatia, downloaded from SCIYO.COM
Why are health care expenditures increasing and is there a rural differential?

For more information about the Center and its publications, please contact RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350. (402) 559-5260. http://www.rupri. org/healthpolicy The Rural Policy Brief series is published by the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) for the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. RUPRI provides objective analyses and facilitates dialogue concerning public policy impacts on rural people and places.
Effect of lacto-N-neotetraose, asialoganglioside-GM1 and neuraminidase on adherence of otitis media-associated serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae to chinchilla tracheal epithelium.

The adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) otitis media-associated serotypes 3, 6A and 14 to ciliated chinchilla respiratory epithelium was investigated using a whole organ perfusion technique. We demonstrated that Spn adhere to chinchilla tracheal epithelium within 30 min and exhibit saturation kinetics indicating that the effect being observed is receptor mediated. Inhibition of adherence was achieved by prior incubation of Spn with lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) or asialoIganglioside GM1 (aGM1), recognized by glycoconjugate analogs of known Spn receptors. NeurIaminidase treatment of the tracheae increased Spn adherence in vitro and reversed the inhibition effect of LNnT suggesting that neuraminidase treatment resulted in an increase in the number of available receptors for Spn. The chinchilla trachea organ perfusion culture system used in this study imitates eustachian tube conditions more closely than isolated cell culture systems and is a useful model for investigating the role of Spn adherence in vitro in the pathogenesis of OM.
Sensitivity and specificity of machine learning classifiers for glaucoma diagnosis using Spectral Domain OCT and standard automated perimetry.

PURPOSE To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of machine learning classifiers (MLCs) for glaucoma diagnosis using Spectral Domain OCT (SD-OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP). METHODS Observational cross-sectional study. Sixty two glaucoma patients and 48 healthy individuals were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging with SD-OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, California). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained for all SD-OCT parameters and global indices of SAP. Subsequently, the following MLCs were tested using parameters from the SD-OCT and SAP: Bagging (BAG), Naive-Bayes (NB), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Radial Basis Function (RBF), Random Forest (RAN), Ensemble Selection (ENS), Classification Tree (CTREE), Ada Boost M1(ADA),Support Vector Machine Linear (SVML) and Support Vector Machine Gaussian (SVMG). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (aROC) obtained for isolated SAP and OCT parameters were compared with MLCs using OCT+SAP data. RESULTS Combining OCT and SAP data, MLCs' aROCs varied from 0.777(CTREE) to 0.946 (RAN). The best OCT+SAP aROC obtained with RAN (0.946) was significantly larger the best single OCT parameter (p<0.05), but was not significantly different from the aROC obtained with the best single SAP parameter (p=0.19). CONCLUSION Machine learning classifiers trained on OCT and SAP data can successfully discriminate between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. The combination of OCT and SAP measurements improved the diagnostic accuracy compared with OCT data alone.
Comparison of Erasure Tests with Diversity Reception for Noncoherent M-ary FSK Signaling

A Z-Bayesian erasure test (BET) based on order statistics with diversity reception for noncoherent M-ary frequency shift keying (FSK) signaling is examined. In the Z-BET, the M-ary FSK symbol is erased whenever the a posteriori probability of correct decision, which is a function of the Z-largest sums of energy detector outputs, is less than a threshold. For binary FSK signaling in Rayleigh flat fading channels, the 2-BET is found to be the same as the difference threshold test (DTT), which declares an erasure whenever the difference between the largest and the second largest sums of energy detector outputs is less than a threshold. The output threshold test (OTT), which declares an erasure whenever the largest sum of energy detector outputs is less than a threshold, is proved equivalent to the 1-BET for the Rayleigh flat fading channel. Closed-form expressions for the probabilities of correct decision and symbol error for the DTT, Viterbi's ratio threshold test (RTT), and the OTT are derived when square-law combining (SLC) diversity is used. Several erasure tests including the Z-BET, the RTT, the OTT, and the DTT are compared in terms of probability of codeword error. The 2-BET provides almost the same performance as the BET that requires all the sums of energy detector outputs. The 2-BET provides power gains of 0.9 dB and 0.7 dB over the RTT for (7,3) and (15,7) Reed-Solomon (RS) codes, respectively, when the probability of codeword error is 10 3 and the diversity order is one. Higher-order diversity has reduced gains.
PV Single-Phase Grid-Connected Converter: DC-Link Voltage Sensorless Prospective

In this paper, a dc-link voltage sensorless control technique is proposed for single-phase two-stage grid-coupled photovoltaic (PV) converters. Matching conventional control techniques, the proposed scheme assigns the function of PV maximum power point tracking to the chopper stage. However, in the inverter stage, conventional techniques employ two control loops: outer dc-link voltage and inner grid current control loops. Diversely, the proposed technique employs only current control loop and mitigates the voltage control loop, thus eliminating the dc-link high-voltage sensor. Hence, system cost and footprint are reduced, and control complexity is minimized. Furthermore, the removal of the dc-link voltage loop proportional–integral controller enhances system stability and improves its dynamic response during sudden environmental changes. The system simulation is carried out, and an experimental rig is implemented to validate the proposed technique effectiveness. In addition, the proposed technique is compared with the conventional one under varying irradiance conditions at different dc-link voltage levels, illustrating the enhanced capabilities of the proposed technique.
Hypoxic‐ischemic gene expression profile in the isolated variant of biliary atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) includes a sclerosing cholangiopathy whose nature is not fully deciphered. Aiming to evaluate the role of an arteriopathy as an etiologic factor in BA, we investigated hypoxia and the correlated angiogenic response in livers from affected patients.
The association of infliximab trough levels with disease activity in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Objective. Low serum trough levels (TLs) of infliximab (IFX) and antibodies to IFX (ATIs) are associated with the loss of therapeutic response in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving IFX. Until now, pediatric data are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to cross-sectionally investigate the association between ATIs and IFX TLs, and clinical and biochemical disease activity in children receiving IFX for IBD. Material and methods. Children aged <18 years receiving IFX maintenance treatment for Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) at three Dutch hospitals were included. Prior to two consecutive IFX infusions, IFX TLs and ATI levels were measured. Clinical disease activity was determined by Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) and Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI), for CD and UC, respectively. Biochemical disease activity was assessed by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC). Clinical remission was defined as a PUCAI or PCDAI score of <10. Therapeutic range of IFX was considered 3–7 µg/ml. Results. Thirty-nine patients were included (31 CD; 16 females). Median age was 15 years. Median IFX TL was 3.5 µg/ml [IQR 2–7]. Subtherapeutic and supratherapeutic TLs were found in 38% and 23% of children, respectively. ATIs were detected in four patients. A correlation was found between IFX TL and CRP [rs = −0.51; p < 0.01] and FC [rs = −0.49; p < 0.01]. However, when only clinical disease activity was considered, no difference in median TL was found between remission and active disease (resp. 3.5 µg/ml [IQR 2–5] and 2.3 µg/ml [IQR 0.3–4.6]; p = 0.2). Conclusions. IFX TLs are related to biochemical markers of disease activity. This could provide a rationale for monitoring TLs in children receiving IFX for IBD.
Enhanced dispersion of carbon nanotubes in hyperbranched polyurethane and properties of nanocomposites

Hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPU) nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by in situ polymerization on the basis of poly(ε-caprolactone)diol as the soft segment, 4,4′-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) as the hard segment, and castor oil as the multifunctional group for the hyperbranched structure. A dominant improvement in the dispersion of MWNTs in the HBPU matrix was found, and good solubility of HBPU–MWNT nanocomposites in organic solvents was shown. Due to the well-dispersed MWNTs, the nanocomposites resulted in achieving excellent shape memory properties as well as enhanced mechanical properties compared to pure HBPU.
Identification of cell surface markers glypican-4 and CD200 that differentiate human corneal endothelium from stromal fibroblasts.

PURPOSE There is a lack of definitive cell surface markers to differentiate cultured human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) from stromal fibroblasts, which could contaminate HCEC cultures. The aim of our study is to discover cell surface antigens on HCECs that can be used to identify and purify HCECs from stromal fibroblasts. METHODS RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to find differentially overexpressed genes in HCECs and commercial antibodies against these overexpressed antigens were screened by immunofluorescence assay. Similarly, 242 commercial antibodies against cell-surface antigens also were screened. Selected antibodies were used to sort HCECs from stromal fibroblasts by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). RESULTS Two monoclonal antibodies, anti-GPC4 and anti-CD200, were identified to stain HCECs specifically. FACS was used successfully to sort HCECs away from stromal fibroblasts. Recovery efficiency of HCECs after sorting using anti-GPC4 antibody was higher compared to anti-CD200 antibody, but purity of HCECs culture using either antibody was comparable. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the anti-GPC4 and anti-CD200 antibodies can be useful for purification and identification of HCECs in cultures containing stromal fibroblasts.
Absorbed dose to water determination with ionization chamber dosimetry and calorimetry in restricted neutron, photon, proton and heavy-ion radiation fields

Absolute dose measurements with a transportable water calorimeter and ionization chambers were performed at a water depth of 20 mm in four different types of radiation fields, for a collimated 60Co photon beam, for a collimated neutron beam with a fluence-averaged mean energy of 5.25 MeV, for collimated proton beams with mean energies of 36 MeV and 182 MeV at the measuring position, and for a 12C ion beam in a scanned mode with an energy per atomic mass of 430 MeV u−1. The ionization chambers actually used were calibrated in units of air kerma in the photon reference field of the PTB and in units of absorbed dose to water for a Farmer-type chamber at GSI. The absorbed dose to water inferred from calorimetry was compared with the dose derived from ionometry by applying the radiation-field-dependent parameters. For neutrons, the quantities of the ICRU Report 45, for protons the quantities of the ICRU Report 59 and for the 12C ion beam, the recommended values of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocol (TRS 398) were applied. The mean values of the absolute absorbed dose to water obtained with these two independent methods agreed within the standard uncertainty (k = 1) of 1.8% for calorimetry and of 3.0% for ionometry for all types and energies of the radiation beams used in this comparison.
Homeostatic plasticity during alcohol exposure promotes enlargement of dendritic spines

Modifications of the size, shape and number of dendritic spines is thought to be an important component of activity‐dependent changes of neuronal circuits, and may play an important role in the plasticity of drug addiction. The present study examined whether homeostatic increases in synaptic N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors in response to chronic ethanol exposure is associated with corresponding morphological changes in dendritic spines. Prolonged exposure of rat hippocampal cultures to either the NMDA receptor antagonist d(–)‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphono‐pentanoic acid or to ethanol increased punctate staining of F‐actin and the postsynaptic density protein‐95 (PSD‐95). The increase in dendritic F‐actin occurred only with clusters that co‐localized with PSD‐95 clusters, indicating that these actin structures likely represent dendritic spines. The ethanol‐induced increases in PSD‐95 and F‐actin clusters were activity‐dependent and reversible. Finally, inhibition of protein palmitoylation prevented ethanol‐induced increases in synaptic NMDA receptor clustering and F‐actin without altering the basal clustering of either F‐actin or PSD‐95. These observations support a model in which chronic ethanol exposure induces homeostatic increases of NR2B‐containing NMDA receptors and PSD‐95 to the postsynaptic density. This in turn may provide a scaffolding platform for the subsequent recruitment of actin signaling cascades that alter actin cycling and promote spine enlargement.
A contemporary taxometric analysis of the latent structure of self-monitoring.

One of the most provocative findings in the personality psychology literature is evidence that the latent structure of self-monitoring is categorical. That is, individuals can be classified as either high or low self-monitors (Gangestad & Snyder, 1985). Surprisingly, in the three decades since its original publication, this study has never been replicated. Using the sample from the original study (N = 1,918) and a replication sample (N = 2,951), the latent structure of self-monitoring was retested using contemporary taxometric procedures. Preliminary analyses indicated that the eight-item indicator set used in the original study lacked sufficient indicator validities for unambiguously detecting latent categorical structure. In addition, the Other-Directedness subscale, one of the three factor analytically derived subscale indicators used in the original investigation, was likewise found to be unsuitable, because of a combination of low validity and relative orthogonality vis-à-vis its fellow subscales. The 2 remaining subscales, Acting and Extraversion, had excellent properties as indicators, and were subsequently subjected to multiple taxometric procedures and consistency tests. Results failed to support the original taxonic claim; to the contrary, multiple comparison curves and a grand mean comparison curve fit index (CCFI) of . 214 provided strong, convergent evidence that the latent structure of self-monitoring is dimensional rather than categorical. Dimensional findings indicate that the conventional model of self-monitoring may merit reexamination, and that theoretical models, measurement practices, and data analytic procedures that assume taxonicity should be replaced by dimensional conceptualizations and corresponding statistical procedures. Findings underscore the importance of replication in psychological science.