Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidermal growth factor activates cytosolic [Ca] elevations and subsequent membrane permeabilization in mouse cumulus–oocyte complexes

The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the maturation of mammalian oocytes is well known but not well characterized. It is known that EGF enhances oocyte maturation in vitro and that EGF stimulation of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) induces pulsatile Ca efflux from the cell complex. By use of quantitative Fura-2 imaging, EGF-stimulated changes in intracellular [Ca] in germinal vesicle stage murine COCs are shown to occur in a subpopulation of cumulus cells that interact cooperatively within individual COCs. Oocytes fail to respond to EGF stimulus. In many of the cumulus cells responding with a rise in intracellular [Ca], a concomitant permeabilization of the plasma membrane is found. Neither cumulus cells of control COCs nor those that show a rise in intracellular [Ca] in response to calcium ionophore treatment display a similar membrane permeabilization, although those cells responding with a prolonged [Ca] increase in response to thimerosal or thapsigargin do display plasma membrane permeabilization. Thus, EGF stimulation of mammalian COCs activates release of Ca from intracellular stores of cumulus cells, the depletion of which activates permeabilization of the plasma membrane. This membrane permeabilization leads to loss of cell contents and presumptive cumulus cell death. This catastrophic EGF-induced plasma membrane permeabilization of individual cumulus cells within a COC leads to pulsatile Ca efflux as previously seen, and may lead to improved cumulus cell expansion during COC maturation. Reproduction (2004) 127 207–220
Non-invasive monitoring of pH and oxygen using miniaturized electrochemical sensors in 1 an animal model of acute hypoxia 2

19 Background: One of the most prevalent causes of fetal hypoxia leading to stillbirth is placental 20 insufficiency. Hemodynamic changes evaluated with Doppler ultrasound have been used as a 21 surrogate marker of fetal hypoxia. However, Doppler evaluation cannot be performed 22 continuously. As a first step, the present work aimed to evaluate the performance of miniaturized 23
OTT_A_289876 1581..1588

1Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Treatment with 6-Aminopenicillanic Acid

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA04096 was induced for P-lactamases with 6-aminopenicillanic acid. Surface changes concomitant with P-lactamase induction were monitored. The surface hydrophobicity of the culture increased during exposure to 6-aminopenicillanic acid. The increase was associated with a change in the distribution of the 0 antigen in the lipopolysaccharide of treated cells. The hydrophobicity change was reversible and partially inhibited by depressed protein synthesis. The susceptibility of induced cells to rifampin
ReceptorActivates STAT6 via Binding to a Novel IL-4 Progesterone-Induced Blocking Factor

Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) induces Th2-dominant cytokine production. Western blotting and EMSA revealed phosphorylation as well as nuclear translocation of STAT6 and inhibition of STAT4 phosphorylation in PIBF-treated cells. The silencing of STAT6 by small interfering RNA reduced the cytokine effects. Because the activation of the STAT6 pathway depends on the ligation of IL-4R, we tested the involvement of IL-4R in PIBF-induced STAT6 activation. Although PIBF does not bind to IL-4R, the blocking of the latter with an Ab abolished PIBF-induced STAT6 activation, whereas the blocking of the IL-13R had no effect. PIBF activated suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 and inhibited IL-12-induced suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 activation. The blocking of IL-4R counteracted all the described effects, suggesting that the PIBF receptor interacts with IL-4R (cid:1) -chain, allowing PIBF to activate the STAT6 pathway. PIBF did not phosphorylate Jak3, suggesting that the (cid:2) -chain is not needed for PIBF signaling. Confocal microscopic analysis revealed a colocalization and at 37°C a cocapping of the FITC PIBF-activated PIBF receptor and PE anti-IL-4R-labeled IL-4R. After the digestion of the cells with phosphatidylinositol-speciﬁc phospholipase C, the STAT6-activating effect of PIBF was lost, whereas that of IL-4 remained unaltered. These data suggest the existence of a novel type of IL-4R composed
Exogenous NaHS treatment alleviated Cd-induced stress in Ocimum basilicum plants through modulation of antioxidant defense system

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) regulates many critical processes of plants. The effect of sodium hydrogen sulfide as H2S agent was investigated in basil plants under cadmium stress. A completely randomized design with three different concentrations (0, 50 and 100 μM) of CdCl2 and two levels of NaHS (0 and 100 μM) was used in this study. Cadmium exposure reduced growth parameters and relative water content. Cd also caused a significant increase in ion leakage and higher oxidative stress in terms of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 production. Although exogenous NaHS used in non-stressed control plants negatively affected growth and physiological parameters, it improved the root/shoot length ratio and fresh weight in basil plants under Cd 50 μM exposure. Moreover, NaHS alleviated deleterious effects of cadmium on ion leakage, relative water content and photosynthetic pigments of leaves. The activity of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were also enhanced by NaHS in plants under moderate cadmium stress. Our results show that NaHS 50 μM ameliorates growth retardation induced by cadmium 50 μM stress in basil plants, probably through regulating physiological parameters such as photosynthetic pigments content, relative water content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
Specific to the Common Chimpanzee A Novel, Nonclassical MHC Class I Molecule

All expressed human MHC class I genes ( HLA-A, -B, -C, -E, -F, and - G ) have functional orthologues in the MHC of the common chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ). In contrast, a nonclassical MHC class I gene discovered in the chimpanzee is not present in humans or the other African ape species. In exons and more so in introns, this Patr-AL gene is similar to the expressed A locus in the orangutan, Popy-A, suggesting they are orthologous. Patr-AL / Popy-A last shared a common ancestor with the classical MHC-A locus > 20 million years ago. Population analysis revealed little Patr-AL polymorphism: just three allotypes differing only at residues 52 and 91. Patr-AL is expressed in PBMC and B cell lines, but at low level compared with classical MHC class I. The Patr-AL polypeptide is unusually basic, but its glycosylation, association with (cid:1) 2 -microglobulin, and antigenicity at the cell surface are like other MHC class I. No Patr-AL-mediated inhibition of polyclonal chimpanzee NK cells was detected. The Patr-AL gene is present in 50% of chimpanzee MHC haplotypes, correlating with presence of a 9.8-kb band in Southern blots. The ﬂanking regions of Patr-AL contain repetitive/retroviral elements not ﬂanking other class I genes. In sequenced HLA class I haplotypes, a similar element is present in the A*2901 haplotype but not the A*0201 or A*0301 haplotypes. This element, 6 kb downstream of A*2901, appears to be the relic of a human gene related to Patr-AL. Patr-AL has characteristics of a class I molecule of innate immunity with potential to provide common chimpanzees with responses unavailable to humans. The
Simulation-based Estimation Methods for Financial Time Series Models

This paper overviews some recent advances on simulation-based methods of estimating time series models and asset pricing models that are widely used in finance. The simulation based methods have proven to be particularly useful when the likelihood function and moments do not have tractable forms and hence the maximum likelihood method (MLE) and the generalized method of moments (GMM) are difficult to use. They can also be useful for improving the finite sample performance of the traditional methods when financial time series are highly persistent and when the quantity of interest is a highly nonlinear function of system parameters. The simulation-based methods are classified in this paper, based on the frequentist/Bayesian split. Frequentist’s simulation-based methods cover simulated generalized method of moments (SMM), efficient method of moments (EMM), indirect inference (II), various forms of simulated maximum likelihood methods (SMLE). Asymptotic properties of these methods are discussed and asymptotic efficiency is compared. Bayesian simulation-based methods cover various MCMC algorithms. Each simulation-based method is discussed in the context of a specific financial time series model as a motivating example. The list of discussed financial time series models cover continuous time diffusion models, latent variable models, term structure models, asset pricing models, and structural models for credit risk. Finite sample problems of the exact maximum likelihood method, such as finite sample bias, are also discussed. Simulation-based bias correction methods, such as indirect inference, simulation-based median unbiased estimation, and bootstrap methods are reviewed. A nice property about these simulation-based bias correction methods is that they retains the good asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimation while reducing finite sample bias. ∗Yu gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Ministry of Education AcRF fund under Grant No. T206B4301-RS. †School of Economics, Singapore Management University, 90 Stamford Road, Singapore 178903; email: yujun@smu.edu. sg.
DMD058032 1599..1610

In this work, we leverage a mathematical model of the underlying physiochemical properties of tissues and physicochemical properties of molecules to support the development of hepatoselective glucokinase activators. Passive distribution is modeled via a Fick-Nernst-Planck approach, using in vitro experimental data to estimate the permeability of both ionized and neutral species. The model accounts for pH and electrochemical potential across cellular membranes, ionization according to Henderson-Hasselbalch, passive permeation of the neutral species using Fick’s law, and passive permeation of the ionized species using the NernstPlanck equation. The mathematical model of the physiochemical system allows derivation of a single set of parameters governing the distribution of drug molecules across multiple conditions both in vitro and in vivo. A case study using this approach in the development of hepatoselective glucokinase activators via organic anion-transporting polypeptide–mediated hepatic uptake and impaired passive distribution to the pancreas is described. The results for these molecules indicate the permeability penalty of the ionized form is offset by its relative abundance, leading to passive pancreatic exclusion according to the Nernst-Planck extension of Fickian passive permeation. Generally, this model serves as a useful construct for drug discovery scientists to understand subcellular exposure of acids or bases using specific physiochemical properties.
Smith, Richard J. and Li, Wenqi and Coulson, Jethro and Clark, Matt and Somekh, Michael G. and Sharples, Steve D. (2014) Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy for rapid imaging of material

Measuring the grain structure of aerospace materials is very important to understand their mechanical properties and in-service performance. Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy is an acoustic technique utilizing surface acoustic waves to map the grain structure of a material. When combined with measurements in multiple acoustic propagation directions, the grain orientation can be obtained by fitting the velocity surface to a model. The new instrument presented here can take thousands of acoustic velocity measurements per second. The spatial and velocity resolution can be adjusted by simple modification to the system; this is discussed in detail by comparison of theoretical expectations with experimental data.
EFFECT OF THE MARBLE POWDER AND WOOD POWDER CONTENT ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES

The waste powder produced during the manufacture of marble, which is presently mostly discarded in landfills, has the potential for higher-valued usage. Recycling marble waste powder will contribute to the protection of nature as well as economic gain. The goal of this study is to investigate the potential use of marble waste powder as filler in the thermoplastic composites with wood. Thermoplastic composites were manufactured by adding marble factory waste powder and wood powder in different ratios to polypropylene (PP). Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) were used as coupling agent to improve interfacial adhesion between hydrophilic wood–fibers and hydrophobic polypropylene. The waste marble powder and wood powder were mixed by weight of with polypropylene in the percentage of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Physical and mechanical tests were performed on the specimens prepared from the thermoplastic composites. Although mechanical properties of the composites decreased with increasing content of the marble powder, the water absorption of the composites significantly decreased with increasing content of the marble powder.
A Previously Unrecognized H-2D-Restricted Peptide Prominent in the Primary Influenza A Virus-Specific CD8 T-Cell Response Is Much Less Apparent following Secondary Challenge

Respiratory challenge of H-2 mice with an H3N2 influenza A virus causes an acute, transient pneumonitis characterized by the massive infiltration of CD8 T lymphocytes. The inflammatory process monitored by quantitative analysis of lymphocyte populations recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage is greatly enhanced by prior exposure to an H1N1 virus, with the recall of cross-reactive CD8-T-cell memory leading to more rapid clearance of the infection from the lungs. The predominant epitope recognized by the influenza virus-specific CD8 set has long been thought to be a nucleoprotein (NP366–374) presented by H-2D b (DNP366). This continues to be true for the secondary H3N23H1N1 challenge but can no longer be considered the case for the primary response to either virus. Quantitative analysis based on intracellular staining for gamma interferon has shown that the polymerase 2 protein (PA224–233) provides a previously undetected epitope (D PA224) that is at least as prominent as DNP366 during the first 10 days following primary exposure to either the H3N2 or H1N1 virus. The response to DNP366 seems to continue for longer, even when infectious virus can no longer be detected, but there is no obvious difference in the prevalence of memory T cells specific for DNP366 and DPA224. The generalization that the magnitude of the functional memory T-cell pool is a direct consequence of the clonal burst size during the primary response may no longer be useful. Previous CD8-T-cell immunodominance heirarchies defined largely by cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assays may need to be revised.
High expression of proenkephalin is associated with favorable outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the prognostic value of proenkephalin ( PENK ) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Patients and methods: We collected data on 268 eligible postoperative patients diagnosed with GIST between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011. PENK expression was detected in GIST tissues classi ﬁ ed using the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) risk classi ﬁ cation system. The associations between high PENK expression and the clinicopathological characteristics were assessed. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated by Kaplan – Meier analysis, and the log-rank test was used to compare the differences between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the prognostic value of PENK in GIST patients. Results: High PENK expression was more common in the low- and intermediate-risk GIST groups compared with the high-risk group ( P <0.05). Additionally, PENK expression was associated with tumor size, mitosis count per 50 high-power ﬁ elds, and tumor rupture ( P <0.05). Kaplan – Meier analysis revealed that high PENK expression was associated with superior OS and RFS, while low PENK expression was associated with worse OS and RFS. Furthermore, PENK was shown to be an independent predictor of OS and RFS in the overall population (for OS, hazard ratio [HR], 1.596, 95% con ﬁ dence interval [CI], 1.006 – 2.914, P <0.001; for RFS, HR, 1.910, 95% CI, 0.977 – 3.089, P <0.001). Conclusion: PENK expression in GIST is closely associated with NIH risk grade and prognosis, indicating that PENK may act as a tumor suppressor and may serve as a new biomarker for predicting prognosis in postoperative GIST patients.
Gross Anatomical Studies on the Trachea and Bronchi of Gaddi Sheep

Trachea was a flexible, cartilaginous and membranous tube. The incomplete tracheal rings were dorsally connected by trachealis muscle on the luminal side. Trachea gave off right apical bronchus at level of 3rd rib before bifurcation into right and left principle bronchi at the level of fifth rib, which ventilated the right and left lung respectively. The trachea of Gaddi sheep was composed of forty five to forty eight cartilaginous rings from larynx to its bifurcation into right and left principal bronchi. The right apical bronchus originated at 37th 38th ring. Total length of the trachea was 25.23 ± 4.02 cm in Gaddi sheep. The mean outer vertical diameter (OVD) and mean outer transverse diameter (OTD) of the trachea was 27.92 ± 1.95 and 20.74 ± 0.53 mm respectively. The mean inner vertical diameter (IVD) and mean inner transverse diameter (ITD) in Gaddi sheep was 22.79 ± 1.93 mm and 15.53 ± 0.44 mm respectively. The average thickness of tracheal cartilage was 2.56 ± 0.13 mm. Gaddi sheep followed monopodial pattern of bronchial division, where every secondary bronchus arose from each longitudinal principal bronchus.
Simultaneous Measurement of A (1–42), Total Tau, and Phosphorylated Tau (Thr) in Cerebrospinal Fluid by the xMAP Technology

Background: To simultaneously study several biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD), we used the xMAP technology to develop and evaluate a multiparametric bead-based assay for quantification of -amyloid(1–42) [A (1–42)], total tau (T-TAU), and hyperphosphorylated tau [P-TAU(181P)] in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods: We compared the new multianalyte assay format with established ELISA techniques for the same proteins. We then performed a clinical study using CSF samples from patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment with progression to AD, healthy controls, and patients with other neurologic disorders. Results: The INNO-BIA AlzBio3 selectively and specifically measured A (1–42), T-TAU, P-TAU(181P) in the CSF. The new assay format had intraand interassay CVs <10% for all analytes, even at low concentrations. The measurement range of the new assay was 3 to 4 logs compared with 1 to 2 logs for ELISAs. By plotting the mean of the values obtained in ELISA and the xMAP technology against the difference, we found that a correction factor could be used to convert xMAP results to ELISA values. The clinical study demonstrated that the new multiparametric assay could accurately distinguish patients with AD from patients with other neurologic disorders or control patients, with the diagnostic accuracy reaching recommended consensus criteria for specificity and sensitivity. Conclusion: The new multiparametric method may be able to replace the corresponding ELISA methods. © 2005 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Developing evaluation instrument based on CIPP models on the implementation of portfolio assessment

This study aimed to develop an evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model on the implementation of portfolio assessment in science learning. This study used research and development (R & D) method; adapting 4-D by the development of non-test instrument, and the evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model. CIPP is the abbreviation of Context, Input, Process, and Product. The techniques of data collection were interviews, questionnaires, and observations. Data collection instruments were: 1) the interview guidelines for the analysis of the problems and the needs, 2) questionnaire to see level of accomplishment of portfolio assessment instrument, and 3) observation sheets for teacher and student to dig up responses to the portfolio assessment instrument. The data obtained was quantitative data obtained from several validators. The validators consist of two lecturers as the evaluation experts, two practitioners (science teachers), and three colleagues. This paper shows the results of content validity obtained from the validators and the analysis result of the data obtained by using Aikens’ V formula. The results of this study shows that the evaluation instrument based on CIPP models is proper to evaluate the implementation of portfolio assessment instruments. Based on the experts’ judgments, practitioners, and colleagues, the Aikens’ V coefficient was between 0.86-1,00 which means that it is valid and can be used in the limited trial and operational field trial.This study aimed to develop an evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model on the implementation of portfolio assessment in science learning. This study used research and development (R & D) method; adapting 4-D by the development of non-test instrument, and the evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model. CIPP is the abbreviation of Context, Input, Process, and Product. The techniques of data collection were interviews, questionnaires, and observations. Data collection instruments were: 1) the interview guidelines for the analysis of the problems and the needs, 2) questionnaire to see level of accomplishment of portfolio assessment instrument, and 3) observation sheets for teacher and student to dig up responses to the portfolio assessment instrument. The data obtained was quantitative data obtained from several validators. The validators consist of two lecturers as the evaluation experts, two practitioners (science teachers), and three colleagues. This paper shows the results of content validity.