Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solubilization, Partial Purification, and Properties of ω‐Conotoxin Receptors Associated with Voltage‐Dependent Calcium Channels from Rat Brain Synaptosomes a

These experiments provide a starting point for biochemical characterization of Ca channels from neuronal membranes, using omega-CgTX as a specific marker. The purification of the omega-CgTX receptors is far from complete. Each of the purification steps described results in only a two- to fivefold enrichment of the receptor proteins, and is accompanied by a loss of receptor concentration and stability, so the maximal specific activity achieved by a combination of these steps falls several orders of magnitude short of that of a large, homogeneous, active protein. Nevertheless, these studies have yielded important information about the omega-CgTX receptor. The Stokes' radius, determined from gel exclusion chromatography, is approximately 87 A, and the sedimentation coefficient, determined from sucrose gradient sedimentation, is approximately 19 S. These values are similar to those found for the DHP receptors solubilized in digitonin. We have also found that at least some of the omega-CgTX receptors have complex carbohydrate moieties that are recognized by WGA, together with evidence of heterogeneity of receptor glycosylation. Additionally, we have been able to use the solubilized, partially purified receptors in cross-linking experiments to tentatively identify the molecular weights of the omega-CgTX targets from rat brain. A large peptide of approximately 300 kDa, similar to that identified in photoaffinity studies, is very clearly labeled by the chemical incorporation of [125I]omega-CgTX into partially purified receptor preparations, but some ambiguity remains because of the faint labeling of peptides in the 120-170-kDa range. The approximately 300-kDa peptide is much larger than any single peptide component of DHP receptors from skeletal muscle, and it may be related to a molecular combination of the 170-kDa and 135-kDa subunits of the DHP receptor. Because [125I]omega-CgTX presumably labels both N- and L-type neuronal Ca channels, both channel types will probably be found in the purified preparations. Thus, at some time, it will be necessary to separate DHP-sensitive L-type channels from preparations of L- and N-type channels identified by omega-CgTX binding.
Identification of a bisegmented double-stranded RNA virus (Picobirnavirus) in faeces of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

Giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), which inhabit the neotropical region of Central and South America, belong to the family Myrmecophagidae and to the order Xenarthra or Edentata, along with armadillos and sloths. Little information is available concerning biological and pathological conditions in this species (Ellis & Ellis 1988; Diniz et al., 1995). The major health problems found in giant (M. tridactyla) and lesser anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) in captivity involve the digestive system (26%) and nutritional disorders (20%). The main enteric pathogens found were nematodes (40%), protozoa (16%) and bacteria (9%). The identification of enteric viruses was not carried out (Diniz et al., 1995). Enteric viruses such as rotaviruses are a common cause of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea. A novel virus, tentatively named picobirnavirus (PBV), was identified in epidemiological studies of the presence of rotaviruses in human faeces (Pereira et al., 1988a) by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). These viruses have been described in the faeces of rats (Pereira et al., 1988b), guinea pigs (Pereira et al., 1989), pigs (Gatti et al., 1989; Chasey, 1990; Ludert et al., 1991; Pongsuwanna et al., 1996), chickens (Leite et al.,
Sequence-Based Typing of Mycoplasma genitalium Reveals Sexual Transmission

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma genitalium causes male nonchlamydial, nongonococcal urethritis and is associated with cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Epidemiological studies indicate that M. genitalium is sexually transmitted, and the aim of the present study was to further substantiate this by means of a DNA typing system. A typing assay based on a diagnostic mgpB gene PCR was developed, evaluated, and applied directly to urogenital specimens. The assay had a low limit of detection and hence a high typeability. Sequences of isolates from 52 unrelated patients were divided into 29 different sequence types, giving a discriminatory index of 0.95. Two to six M. genitalium-positive specimens were collected from each of 44 patients over a median interval of 56 days (range, 11 to 1,395). Forty had the same sequence type in consecutive specimens. Specimens collected from two men were repeatedly positive at intervals of 472 and 1,395 days, respectively, but the sequence types had changed. A new strain was introduced in one sexual dyad, and the sequence types changed subsequently. Seventy-nine M. genitalium-positive specimens from 19 couples were investigated, and all partners initially had concordant sequence types, but one couple had discordant types at one time point before a newly introduced strain took over. The present typing system is simple and reproducible and has an excellent discriminatory capacity which might prove useful in studies of sexual networks and for evaluation of treatment failures. In the laboratory, this system may document the uniqueness of newly isolated M. genitalium strains.
Xenopus, an ideal model system to study vertebrate left‐right asymmetry

Vertebrate organ laterality is manifested by the asymmetric morphogenesis and placement of inner organs. Asymmetric induction of the Nodal signaling cascade in the left lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) precedes and is essential for asymmetric organ morphogenesis. While the Nodal cascade is highly conserved, symmetry breakage is considered to vary between the different classes of the vertebrates. In Xenopus, early determinants at cleavage stages were thought to break symmetry, opposed to cilia‐driven leftward flow in mammals and fish. The main objectives of this review are to emphasize the conserved nature of symmetry breakage, and to demonstrate the power of Xenopus embryology to analyze and manipulate flow. In addition, mutant phenotypes described in other model organisms can easily be mimicked in frog by single or multiple knockdowns in combination with experimental manipulations and flow analysis. Xenopus, therefore, is ideally suited to address the major open questions in the field. Developmental Dynamics 238:1215–1225, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application of formal methods to system and software specification

This position paper describes our efforts to apply formal, methods to the specification of complex systems and the overlap of these efforts with the topics of the workshop. The introduction describes why we are interested in using formal methods, and it is followed by short descriptions of the individual tasks with which we are currently involved. The conclusion relates these tasks to the workshop topics.
Design and integration of interphase inductors for interleaved three phase voltage-source-inverters in DC-fed motor drive systems

This paper presents a detail analysis on the design and integration of interphase inductor for interleaved three phase voltage-source-inverters (VSI). The benefits of interleaving on EMI filter weight reduction are presented. Interleaving can cancel certain order of harmonics in the total output current and reduce the size and weight of the EMI filter to meet certain EMI standard. However, it also creates the voltage difference between the two converters that generate circulating current in the system which increase system loss and device stress. In order to limit the circulating current, additional interphase inductors are needed for motor drive system. The penalty of the circulating current and additional interphase inductors are analyzed in detail. Design examples are given for EMI filter and interphase inductor design, which shows that interleaving will increase the total passive weight due to the additional weight of coupled inductors for motor drive systems. In order to reduce the total weight of the passive components of the system, integration design methods for interphase inductor is proposed which indicates that certain value of AC DM inductance can be integrated with interphase inductors with negligible increase on the weight and the maximum integrated inductance is related with interleaving angle. Verifications are carried out through both the simulations and experiments on a 2kW DC-fed motor drive system.
Security Orchestrator: Introducing a Security Orchestrator in the Context of the ETSI NFV Reference Architecture

During the last two years, the ETSI NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) working group has defined the ETSI NFV Reference Architecture. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) means the virtualization of telco network elements intending to get away from specialized or proprietary network appliances by leveraging standard IT virtualization technologies (clouds). One main intention of ETSI NFV MANO is controlling the NFV environment as much as possible through automation and orchestration. As security is a key requirement of virtual networking in the context of NFV environments, the same principles should apply to security management in ETSI NFV. Therefore it is proposed introducing a Security Orchestrator to meet this requirement. This paper describes the ETSI NFV Reference Architecture enhanced by the Security Orchestrator as well as the interworking of the Security Orchestrator with the already defined ETSI NFV orchestration and management entities like the NFV Orchestrator, the VNF Manager(s), the Element Manager(s) and the Virtual Infrastructure Manager(s). Additionally it defines the security orchestration tasks as well as the interfaces required to interact with the existing ETSI NFV Reference Architecture.
Virtual puncture line in radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma of the caudate lobe.

OBJECTIVE In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using a virtual puncture line in 3D CT for the treatment of 21 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules in the caudate lobe. CONCLUSION There were no severe complications in this study. Thus, the treatment of HCC nodules in the caudate lobe using a virtual puncture line is feasible.
Extracting and visualising human activity patterns of daily living in a smart home environment

The authors present an approach that extracts human activity patterns of daily living and represents spatiotemporal relations between activities intuitively. In general, customised services are provided based on activity patterns of users. This study focuses on extracting and determining activities that occur simultaneously. In order to determine simultaneous activities, the authors analysed the daily activities that are collected from device applications such as location sensors and electronics. In addition, a context model using the incremental statistical method is organised and temporal relations between the activities patterns are analysed. Furthermore, information visualisation of the spatiotemporal topology with duration and frequency is demonstrated. Also, the authors have experimented on a test-bed called the ubiquitous smart space and compared the accuracy of the incremental statistical method with that of the non-incremental method.
Similarity measures for boolean search request formulations

The aim of this article is to propose a means of determining the similarity between search request formulations, which are Boolean combinations of descriptors. The similarity measures introduced can be used to cluster Boolean search request formulations. The search request formulation clusters can in turn be utilized in methods for clustering document representations. The initiation of the work on the methodology for determining similarity measures for Boolean search request formulations has been encouraged by hitherto performed experimental research into information retrieval systems with search request formulations in the form of sets of certain descriptors, i.e., in the same form as document representations. These experiments have shown a preponderance of those methods for clustering document representations that use previously formed clusters of search request formulations. We can expect that by using the proposed methodology for determining the similarity between Boolean combinations of descriptors, we might obtain similar results for the case of Boolean search request formulations. The introductory part of the article provides the background for undertaking the research reported. The underlying notions are then presented, and the proposed measures of similarity between Boolean search request formulations are justified and illustrated by examples. In addition, some experimental results concerning the suggested similarity measures are given.
Effects of exercise and weight loss in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent among older individuals and is linked to increased cardiovascular disease morbidity. This study examined the change in OSA severity after exercise training and dietary-induced weight loss in older adults and the association of the changes in OSA severity, body composition, and aerobic capacity with arterial distensibility. METHODS Obese adults (n = 25) with OSA, age 60 yr or older, were instructed to participate in supervised exercise (3 d·wk) and follow a calorie-restricted diet. Baseline assessments of OSA parameters, body weight and composition, aerobic capacity, and arterial distensibility were repeated at 12 wk. RESULTS Nineteen participants completed the intervention. At 12 wk, there were reductions in body weight (-9%) and percentage of total body fat (-5%) and trunk fat (-8%) whereas aerobic capacity improved by 20% (all P < 0.01). The apnea-hypopnea index decreased by 10 events per hour (P < 0.01) and nocturnal SaO2 (mean SaO2) improved from 94.9% at baseline to 95.2% after intervention (P = 0.01). Arterial distensibility for the group was not different from that at baseline (P = 0.99), yet individual changes in distensibility were associated with the change in nocturnal desaturations (r = -0.49, P = 0.03) but not with the change in body weight, apnea-hypopnea index, or aerobic capacity. CONCLUSIONS The severity of OSA was reduced after an exercise and weight loss program among older adults, suggesting that this lifestyle approach may be an effective first-line nonsurgical and nonpharmacological treatment for older patients with OSA.
[3H]HARMALINE AS A SPECIFIC LIGAND OF MAO A–II. MEASUREMENT OF THE TURNOVER RATES OF MAO A DURING ONTOGENESIS IN THE RAT BRAIN

The combined measurement of MAO A activity (using [3H]5‐HT as a specific substrate) and [3H]harmaline binding capacity indicated that the concentration of MAO A in brain was higher in 14‐28 day old rats than in adult animals. The turnover rates of this enzyme in the forebrain and the brain stem of young (14‐28 day old) and adult rats were calculated by following the recovery of MAO A activity and of [3H]harmaline binding capacity after an acute treatment with pargyline (75mg/kg i.p.). Both the fractional rate constant for MAO A degradation and its synthesis rate per g of fresh tissue were significantly higher in young animals. However, the calculation of the absolute synthesis rates of MAO A per brain area gave very similar values in young and adult animals: 1.3‐1.5 × 1013 molecules of MAO A synthesized per day in the forebrain and 2.3‐2.9 × 1012 molecules per day in the brain stern.
Effects of land use on the Soil Organic Carbon storage potentiality and soil edaphic factors in Tripura, Northeast India

The regulatory functions of soil are getting attention among the scientists and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is an important indicator of soil health. The impact of differential use of land on SOC and other edaphic properties were analysed in three important Land use land cover (LULC) system of Tripura, northeast India. Soil cores were divided into four depth profiles (0 - 10, 10 - 30, 30 - 50 and 50 - 100 cm) to observe the changes of edaphic properties into the soil depth gradient. Our results suggest that SOC in the top profile of Managed Plantation (MP) and Jhum Fellow (JF) was 51.68% and 48.55%, less than Natural Forest (NF). From 0 - 10 to 10 - 30 cm soil depth, 43.3%, 8.4% and 39.4% decrease in NF MP and JF found. Total stock of SOC (Mg C·ha﹣1) was found highest in JF (121.87), followed by NF (117.12) and MP (85.34). In top profile, conversion of NF into MP and NF into JF led to 39% and 11% decrease in SOC. The significant variation in SOC stock was found among different LULC under this study (F2,12 = 16.94, P ≤ 0.001). In 0 - 10 cm soil depth, maximum value of bulk density (gm·cm﹣3) was found in MP (1.39) followed by JF (1.27) and NF (1.23). In top profile, significant variation was found among LULC (p < 0.001). Soil pH and moisture content significantly varied (p < 0.05) in 0 - 10, 10 - 30 and 50 - 100 cm soil depth. In contrast to that significant change in soil temperature was found at 30 - 50 cm (p < 0.001) and 50 - 100 cm (p < 0.001). It was observed that JF had highest overall SOC stock than NF and MP. Conversion of NF into MP and JF results significant loss of SOC at 0 - 10 and 10 - 30 cm depth profile. We also found that NF conversion had significant impact on the change in the soil C pool.
The POU Factor Oct-6 and Schwann Cell Differentiation

The POU transcription factor Oct-6, also known as SCIP or Tst-1, has been implicated as a major transcriptional regulator in Schwann cell differentiation. Microscopic and immunochemical analysis of sciatic nerves of Oct-6−/− mice at different stages of postnatal development reveals a delay in Schwann cell differentiation, with a transient arrest at the promyelination stage. Thus, Oct-6 appears to be required for the transition of promyelin cells to myelinating cells. Once these cells progress past this point, Oct-6 is no longer required, and myelination occurs normally.
Histological Sectioning of the Rodent Larynx for Inhalation Toxicity Testing

In rodents, the larynx is a major site of histopathologic alteration following inhalation exposure to particulates, vapors, and aerosols. Specifically, the epithelial lining of a narrowly delineated region on the ventral floor of the larynges of rats and mice appears to be especially vulnerable to inhaled materials, and is recognized as a preferred site for histopathological evaluation in inhalation studies. This site is located at the base of the epiglottis, cranial to the ventral laryngeal diverticulum (ventral pouch). The presence of underlying seromucinous glands is critical for histologic identification of this site. We report a histologic sectioning technique, using the ventral laryngeal diverticulum as the anatomical landmark, to obtain tissue sections from this area of predilection in rats and in mice.
A Small, Dilute-Cytoplasm, High-Affinity, Novel Bacterium Isolated by Extinction Culture and Having Kinetic Constants Compatible with Growth at Ambient Concentrations of Dissolved Nutrients in Seawater

ABSTRACT Dilutions of raw seawater produced a bacterial isolate capable of extended growth in unamended seawater. Its 2.9-Mb genome size and 40-fg dry mass were similar to values for many naturally occurring aquatic organotrophs, but water and DNA comprised a large portion of this small chemoheterotroph, as compared toEscherichia coli. The isolate used only a few aromatic hydrocarbons and acetate, and glucose and amino acid incorporation were entirely absent, although many membrane and cytoplasmic proteins were inducible; it was named Cycloclasticus oligotrophus. A general rate equation that incorporates saturation phenomena into specific affinity theory is derived. It is used to relate the kinetic constants for substrate uptake by the isolate to its cellular proteins. The affinity constant KA for toluene was low at 1.3 μg/liter under optimal conditions, similar to those measured in seawater, and the low value was ascribed to an unknown slow step such as limitation by a cytoplasmic enzyme; KAincreased with increasing specific affinities. Specific affinities,a°s, were protocol sensitive, but under optimal conditions were 47.4 liters/mg of cells/h, the highest reported in the literature and a value sufficient for growth in seawater at concentrations sometimes found. Few rRNA operons, few cytoplasmic proteins, a small genome size, and a small cell size, coupled with a high a°s and a low solids content and the ability to grow without intentionally added substrate, are consistent with the isolation of a marine bacterium with properties typical of the bulk of those present.
Hepatoprotective effect of Caesalpinia gilliesii and Cajanus cajan proteins against acetoaminophen overdose-induced hepatic damage

This study aims to evaluate two proteins derived from the seeds of the plants Cajanus cajan (Leguminosae) and Caesalpinia gilliesii (Leguminosae) for their abilities to ameliorate the toxic effects of chronic doses of acetoaminphen (APAP) through the determination of certain biochemical parameters including liver marker enzymes: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin. Also, total protein content and hepatic marker enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase were studied. Moreover, liver antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide, and lipid peroxides were determined in this study. Hepatic adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), adenylate energy charge (ATP, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and inorganic phosphate), and phosphate potential, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase were also examined in the present study. On the other hand, histopathological examination of intoxicated and liver treated with both proteins was taken into consideration. The present results show disturbances in all biochemical parameters and hepatic toxicity signs including mild vascular congestion, moderate inflammatory changes with moderate congested sinusoids, moderate nuclear changes (pyknosis), moderate centrilobular necrosis, fatty changes, nuclear pyknosis vascular congestion, and change in fatty centrilobular necrosis liver. Improvement in all biochemical parameters studied was noticed as a result of treatment intoxicated liver with C. gilliesii and C. cajan proteins either paracetamol with or post paracetamol treatment. These results were documented by the amelioration signs in rat's hepatic architecture. Thus, both plant protein extracts can upregulate and counteract the inflammatory process, minimize damage of the liver, delay disease progression, and reduce its complications.
Factor analysis of investment trust products by using monthly reports and news articles

In this paper, we propose a method of factor analysis with the state space model to help people understand trust products. First, we extract the macro- and micro-factors that affect the net assets value (NAV) of investment trust products from monthly reports and news articles. The extracted factors are then classified by associating them with the categories defined in the Nikkei Thesaurus (Nihon Keizai Shimbun). After that, we select appropriate factors and then construct the state space model to analyze the degree of impact on the NAV of macro- and micro-factors based on the detection of trends in NAV and the correlation analysis of factors. We validated the proposed method based on experimental results.