Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RGD-peptide lunasin inhibits Akt-mediated NF-κB activation in human macrophages through interaction with the αVβ3 integrin.

SCOPE Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and regulation of aberrant macrophage activity under inflammatory conditions is critical for its prevention. The objective was to determine the effect of lunasin on the inhibition of Akt-mediated activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent markers of inflammation and to characterize the physical interaction of lunasin with the αVβ3 integrin receptor in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human THP-1 macrophages. METHODS AND RESULTS The effect of lunasin was evaluated in vitro in LPS-induced THP-1 human macrophages using immunoassays, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and fluorescence confocal microscopy. Lunasin (50 μM) reduced cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and NO levels by 57.9, 64.5, and 76.2%, respectively, and inhibited the activation of phosphorylated Akt and NF-κB p65 by 59.5 and 74.5%, respectively. Lunasin (50 μM) reduced exogenous release of prostaglandin E(2) and tumor necrosis factor-α by 92.5 and 94.9%, respectively. Vitronectin (10 μg/mL), an integrin ligand, increased expression of proinflammatory markers, whereas lunasin (50 μM) attenuated them. Co-IP of lunasin-treated cells confirmed direct interaction with αVβ3 integrin and LC/MS/MS verified its identity. Lunasin was detected within intracellular vesicles and reduced total αVβ3 intensity as observed by fluorescence microscopy. CONCLUSION Lunasin inhibited αVβ3 integrin-mediated proinflammatory markers and downregulated Akt-mediated NF-κB pathways through interaction with αVβ3 integrin.
Non-integrating episomal plasmid-based reprogramming of human amniotic fluid stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells in chemically defined conditions

ABSTRACT Amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) represent an attractive potential cell source for fetal and pediatric cell-based therapies. However, upgrading them to pluripotency confers refractoriness toward senescence, higher proliferation rate and unlimited differentiation potential. AFSC were observed to rapidly and efficiently reacquire pluripotency which together with their easy recovery makes them an attractive cell source for reprogramming. The reprogramming process as well as the resulting iPSC epigenome could potentially benefit from the unspecialized nature of AFSC. iPSC derived from AFSC also have potential in disease modeling, such as Down syndrome or β-thalassemia. Previous experiments involving AFSC reprogramming have largely relied on integrative vector transgene delivery and undefined serum-containing, feeder-dependent culture. Here, we describe non-integrative oriP/EBNA-1 episomal plasmid-based reprogramming of AFSC into iPSC and culture in fully chemically defined xeno-free conditions represented by vitronectin coating and E8 medium, a system that we found uniquely suited for this purpose. The derived AF-iPSC lines uniformly expressed a set of pluripotency markers Oct3/4, Nanog, Sox2, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 in a pattern typical for human primed PSC. Additionally, the cells formed teratomas, and were deemed pluripotent by PluriTest, a global expression microarray-based in-silico pluripotency assay. However, we found that the PluriTest scores were borderline, indicating a unique pluripotent signature in the defined condition. In the light of potential future clinical translation of iPSC technology, non-integrating reprogramming and chemically defined culture are more acceptable.
Non-Take-Up of Means-Tested Social Benefits in Germany

This paper presents non-take-up rates of benefits from the German Income Support for Job Seekers scheme, called Unemployment Benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II ). Eligibility to these benefits is simulated by applying a microsimulation model based on data from the Socio-economic Panel for the years 2005 to 2014. To ensure the quality of the results, feasible upper and lower bounds of nontake-up are shown for different simulation assumptions. By employing a binary choice framework, determinants of the decision (not) to take-up benefits are studied by means of a cross-sectional probit regression and a fixed effects linear probability model. The findings of this study indicate that rates of non-take-up are substantial and time-stable in the decade after the Hartz IV reform of 2005. On average, the share of households that do not claim benefits despite being eligible, amounts to 55.7 percent of all eligible households in that period. The issue of non-take-up has further important implications for the determination of the standard benefit rate. Since the legally defined calculation procedure does not account for non-take-up households in the reference group, the approximated consumption expenditure that is considered as necessary for a dignified life is calculated too low. The results of this study suggest that the legally defined monthly adult lump sum amount in the year 2014 would have been twelve euros higher if the issue of non-take-up was accounted for in the methodology. Based on the findings, the paper aims to give policy recommendations.
Nanoscale imaging of the bone cell network with synchrotron X-ray tomography: optimization of acquisition setup.

PURPOSE The fundamental role of the osteocyte cell network in regulating the bone remodeling has become evident in the last years. This has raised the necessity to explore this complex three-dimensional interconnected structure, but the existing investigation methods cannot provide an adequate assessment. The authors propose to use parallel beam synchrotron radiation computed tomography at the nanoscale to image in three dimensions the osteocyte lacunocanalicular network. To this aim, the authors study the feasibility of this technique and present an optimized imaging protocol suited for the bone cell network. Moreover, they demonstrate the multifaceted information provided by this method. METHODS The high brilliance of synchrotron radiation combined with state of art detectors permits reaching nanoscale spatial resolution. With a nominal pixel size of 280 nm, the parallel beam computed tomography setup at the ID19 experimental station of the ESRF is capable of imaging the bone lacunocanalicular network, considering that the reported diameter of canaliculi is in the range 300-600 nm. However, the actual resolution is limited by the detector and by the radiation dose causing sample damage during the scan. The authors sought to overcome these limitations by optimizing the imaging setup and the acquisition parameters in order to minimize the necessary radiation dose to create the images and to improve the spatial resolution of the detector. RESULTS The authors achieved imaging of the osteocyte cell network in human bone. Due to the optimization of the imaging setup and acquisition parameters, they obtained simultaneously a radiation dose reduction and an increase of the signal to noise ratio in the images. This permitted the authors to generate the first three-dimensional images of the lacunocanalicular network in an area covering several osteons, the fundamental functional units in the bone cortex. The method enables assessment of both architectural parameters of the microporosity and of mineralization degree in the bone matrix. The authors found that the cell network is dense and connected inside osteonal tissue. Conversely, the cell lacunae are sparse, unorganized, and disconnected in interstitial tissue. CONCLUSIONS The authors show that synchrotron radiation computed tomography is a feasible technique to assess the lacunocanalicular network in three dimensions. This is possible due to an optimal imaging setup in which the detector plays an important role. The authors could establish two valid setups, based on two different insertion devices. These results give access to new information on the bone cell network architecture, covering a number of cells two orders of magnitude greater than existing techniques. This enables biomedical studies on series of samples, paving the way to better understanding of bone fragility and to new treatments for bone diseases.
A new DEA model on science and technology resources of industrial enterprises

The science and technology resources play a key role in the development of society and economy. DEA (data envelopment analysis) can be used to gauge overall efficiency. DEA is an empirical method which is used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of decision-making units (DMUs). The DEA has long been applied to assess operational performance in public and private sectors and a two-stage DEA method has been developed. Relative to the traditional DEA approach, two-stage DEA method has the advantage that it can not only provide the overall efficiency values of the evaluated objects, but also the values of each stage. Using the two-stage method, DEA model, this paper gives an analysis of the science and technology resources efficiency of industrial enterprises and its influencing factor. The results reflected the independence of input element and the concentration of output element.
p53 Regulates Cell Cycle and MicroRNAs to Promote Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Multiple studies show that tumor suppressor p53 is a barrier to dedifferentiation; whether this is strictly due to repression of proliferation remains a subject of debate. Here, we show that p53 plays an active role in promoting differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and opposing self-renewal by regulation of specific target genes and microRNAs. In contrast to mouse embryonic stem cells, p53 in hESCs is maintained at low levels in the nucleus, albeit in a deacetylated, inactive state. In response to retinoic acid, CBP/p300 acetylates p53 at lysine 373, which leads to dissociation from E3-ubiquitin ligases HDM2 and TRIM24. Stabilized p53 binds CDKN1A to establish a G1 phase of cell cycle without activation of cell death pathways. In parallel, p53 activates expression of miR-34a and miR-145, which in turn repress stem cell factors OCT4, KLF4, LIN28A, and SOX2 and prevent backsliding to pluripotency. Induction of p53 levels is a key step: RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of p53 delays differentiation, whereas depletion of negative regulators of p53 or ectopic expression of p53 yields spontaneous differentiation of hESCs, independently of retinoic acid. Ectopic expression of p53R175H, a mutated form of p53 that does not bind DNA or regulate transcription, failed to induce differentiation. These studies underscore the importance of a p53-regulated network in determining the human stem cell state.
On the relationship between energy returns and trading volume: a multifractal analysis

ABSTRACT Forecasting and modelling commodities price movements and the activity of energy markets are of real interest to investors and policymakers, especially during turbulent times. This study investigates the volume–returns relationship for two major energy markets (oil and gas) during the recent global financial crisis. Unlike previous studies, we examine this relationship by applying an original fractal approach to intraday data, which has the advantage of accounting for further non-normality, nonstationarity, and fat-tailedness properties. Our study provides two interesting findings. First, we find a significant multifractal relationship between returns and volume in both markets and across all timescales, suggesting nonlinearity in the cross-correlation between returns and volume and rejecting the efficiency assumption. Second, the measure of multifractality in this relationship shows that the magnitude of the fluctuations during bearish and bullish trends affects the volume–return relationship differently, and that the oil market exhibits higher volatility than does the gas market.
Sialylation regulates brain structure and function

Every cell expresses a molecularly diverse surface glycan coat (glycocalyx) comprising its interface with its cellular environment. In vertebrates, the terminal sugars of the glycocalyx are often sialic acids, 9‐carbon backbone anionic sugars implicated in intermolecular and intercellular interactions. The vertebrate brain is particularly enriched in sialic acid‐containing glycolipids termed gangliosides. Human congenital disorders of ganglioside biosynthesis result in paraplegia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. To better understand sialoglycan functions in the nervous system, we studied brain anatomy, histology, biochemistry, and behavior in mice with engineered mutations in St3gal2 and St3gal3, sialyltransferase genes responsible for terminal sialylation of gangliosides and some glycoproteins. St3gal2/3 double‐null mice displayed dysmyelination marked by a 40% reduction in major myelin proteins, 30% fewer myelinated axons, a 33% decrease in myelin thickness, and molecular disruptions at nodes of Ranvier. In part, these changes may be due to dysregulation of ganglioside‐mediated oligodendroglial precursor cell proliferation. Neuronal markers were also reduced up to 40%, and hippocampal neurons had smaller dendritic arbors. Young adult St3gal2/3 double‐null mice displayed impaired motor coordination, disturbed gait, and profound cognitive disability. Comparisons among sialyltransferase mutant mice provide insights into the functional roles of brain gangliosides and sialoglycoproteins consistent with related human congenital disorders. —Yoo, S. ‐W. , Motari, M. G. , Susuki, K. , Prendergast, J., Mountney, A. , Hurtado, A. , Schnaar, R. L. Sialylation regulates brain structure and function. FASEB J. 29, 3040‐3053 (2015). www.fasebj. org
On the Adaptation of Pelvic Motion by Applying 3-dimensional Guidance Forces Using TPAD

Pelvic movement is important to human locomotion as the center of mass is located near the center of pelvis. Lateral pelvic motion plays a crucial role to shift the center of mass on the stance leg, while swinging the other leg and keeping the body balanced. In addition, vertical pelvic movement helps to reduce metabolic energy expenditure by exchanging potential and kinetic energy during the gait cycle. However, patient groups with cerebral palsy or stroke have excessive pelvic motion that leads to high energy expenditure. In addition, they have higher chances of falls as the center ofmass could deviate outside the base of support. In this paper, a novel control method is suggested using tethered pelvic assist device (TPAD) to teach subjects to walk with a specified target pelvic trajectory while walking on a treadmill. In this method, a force field is applied to the pelvis to guide it to move on a target trajectory and correctional forces are applied, if the pelvis motion has excessive deviations from the target trajectory. Three different experimentswith healthy subjects were conducted to teach them to walk on a new target pelvic trajectory with the presented control method. For all three experiments, the baseline trajectory of the pelvis was experimentally determined for each participating subject. To design a target pelvic trajectory which is different from the baseline, Experiment I scaled up the lateral component of the baseline pelvic trajectory, while Experiment II scaled down the lateral component of the baseline trajectory. For both Experiments I and II, the controller generated a 2-D force field in the transverse plane to provide the guidance force. In this paper, seven subjects were recruited for each experiment who walked on the treadmill with suggested control methods and visual feedback of their pelvic trajectory. The results show that the subjects were able to learn the target pelvic trajectory in each experiment and also retained the training effects after the completion of the experiment. In Experiment III, both lateral and vertical components of the pelvic trajectory were scaled down from the baseline trajectory. The force field was extended to three dimensions in order to correct the vertical pelvic movement as well. Three subgroups (force feedback alone, visual feedback alone, and both force and visual feedback) were recruited to understand the effects of force feedback and visual feedback alone to distinguish the results from Experiments I and II. The results showthat a trainingmethod that combines visual and force feedback is superior to the training methods with visual or force feedback alone. We believe that the present control strategy holds potential in training and correcting abnormal pelvic movements in different patient populations.
A printed hybrid loop planar inverted-F antenna for next generation handheld terminals

A novel printed hybrid antenna, formed by loop and planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), is presented for the next generation handheld devices. The proposed antenna design is optimized to cover GSM 850, UMTS, LTE 2300 MHz, WiBro 2300 MHz, WLAN 2400 MHz, WiMAX 3500 MHz, and LTE bands 5, 19, 23, 34, 40 and 42, combined with good radiation performance over all matched frequency bands. The antenna has a compact structure and can easily be printed on a single-layer 0.8 mm thick FR4 substrate.
PSO-based fuzzy logic optimization of dual performance characteristic indices for fast charging of Lithium-ion batteries

Efficacies of the charging strategy and electrified pattern dominate the functionality and lifespan of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries intensely. In order to maximize the available performance of the Li-ion batteries, in this paper, a searching strategy based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) conducted with a fuzzy-deduced fitness evaluator (FDFE) is proposed to find the best multistage charging current pattern. The objective function is to maximize the cost benefit of the applied prospective charging pattern based on the nonlinear weightings' allocation of the charge time (CT) and normalized discharge capacity (NDC) in the objective function. Rules of the weighting allocation are derived from the fuzzy logic inference. The fitness value of each candidate particle (charging pattern) is figured out by the FDFE to guide the searching path of the PSO algorithm for finding the optimal solution out. Experimental findings show that the resulted pattern is capable of charging the batteries to over 90% available capacity within 50 minutes. Comparing with the conventional constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) method, the devised scheme has the performance enhancements of more than 80% charging time reduction, 21% more life cycles, and over 0.4% charging efficiency increase.
Secondary progressive in contrast to relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients show a normal CD4+CD25+ regulatory T‐cell function and FOXP3 expression

Accumulating evidence indicates an immunosuppressive role for CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in autoimmune diseases. Although an impaired Treg function in patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RR‐MS) has been reported recently, no information is available so far about Treg function in the progressive stage of the disease. In the present study, the phenotypic and functional characteristics of CD4+CD25+ T cells isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with RR‐MS and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SP‐MS) were investigated. No significant quantitative or phenotypic abnormalities in CD4+CD25+ T cells from RR‐ and SP‐MS patients were detected. However, whereas a reduced suppressor function of CD4+CD25+ T cells toward proliferation and interferon‐γ production of CD4+CD25– responder T cells was found in RR‐MS patients, SP‐MS patients showed a normal Treg function. The suppressive capacity of MS‐derived CD4+CD25+ T cells was correlated with disease duration but not with age, indicating that Treg function is more affected in the early phase of the disease process. Consistently with the suppressive capacity, CD4+CD25+ T cells from SP‐MS patients showed normal levels of FOXP3 mRNA in contrast to RR‐MS patients that had a reduced FOXP3 expression. These data are the first to demonstrate differences in function and FOXP3 expression of CD4+CD25+ T cells from patients with RR‐ and SP‐MS. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of packers’ inventory and market power on price adjustments in the U.S. beef industry

ABSTRACT This study examines effects of packers’ inventory and market power on their price adjustment behaviour in the U.S. beef industry. Econometric model used in the study allows inventory and market power variables to influence the speed-of-adjustment parameters in a three-regime threshold error-correction model. Results show that the two variables have a statistically significant impact on packers’ price adjustment behaviour when price decreases but not when price increases. When price decreases, inventory tends to accelerate the adjustment process whereas packers’ market power slows down the adjustment process. The hypothesis of symmetric adjustment towards long-run equilibrium during increasing and decreasing phases of price is not rejected when the effects of inventory and market power are considered in explaining packers’ price adjustment behaviour. However, when these two effects are ignored in the model specification, the hypothesis of symmetry is rejected such that the speed of adjustment in the increasing phase of price is faster than the adjustment speed in the decreasing phase of price, i.e. ‘rockets and feathers’ effect.
Minor Contribution of Bone Marrow‐Derived Endothelial Progenitors to the Vascularization of Murine Gliomas

Until recently, it was generally accepted that the vascularization of solid tumors occurred exclusively through the sprouting and co‐option from preexisting blood vessels. Growing evidence now suggests that bone marrow‐derived endothelial progenitor cells (EP) circulate in the blood and may play an important role in the formation of new blood vessels in certain tumors. Whether endothelial progenitors participate in the vascularization of brain tumors has not yet been evaluated. In this study, we examined the contribution of EP to tumor angiogenesis in a murine glioma tumor model. Donor bone marrow cells obtained from transgenic mice constitutively expressing β‐galactosidase or GFP either ubiquitously or transcriptionally regulated by an endothelial specific promotor Tie‐2 were injected into lethally irradiated adult mice. After bone marrow reconstitution by donor cells, mice were implanted with syngeneic GL261 murine glioma cells. Morphological and confocal 3‐dimensional analysis showed that the majority of the engrafted donor marrow cells were expressing hematopoietic and/or microglia markers, but did not appreciably contribute to the tumor vasculature. Implantation of glioma cells genetically engineered to overexpress VEGF produced highly vascularized tumors. However, the number of endothelial progenitors incorporated in the tumor vasculature did not increase. These data strongly suggest that neovascularization in the brain might fundamentally be regulated by the sprouting of pre‐existing vessels and implicate that circulating endothelial progenitors do not play a significant role in this process.