Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dose-dependent hepatotoxicity effects of Zinc oxide nanoparticles

Objective(s): Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNP) are increasingly used in sunscreens, biosensors, food additives and pigments. In this study the effects of ZNP on liver of rats was investigated. Materials and Methods: Experimental groups received 5, 50 and 300 mg/kg ZNP respectively for 14 days. Control group received only distilled water. ALT, AST and ALP were considered as biomarkers to indicate hepatotoxicity. Lipid peroxidation (MDA), SOD and GPx were detected for assessment of oxidative stress in liver tissue. Histological studies and TUNEL assay were also done. Results: Plasma concentration of zinc (Zn) was significantly increased in 5 mg/kg ZNP-treated rats. Liver concentration of Zn was significantly increased in the 300 mg/kg ZNP-treated animals. Weight of liver was markedly increased in both 5 and 300 mg/kg doses of ZNP. ZNP at the doses of 5 mg/kg induced a significant increase in oxidative stress through the increase in MDA content and a significant decrease in SOD and GPx enzymes activity in the liver tissue. Administration of ZNP at 5 mg/kg induced a significant elevation in plasma AST, ALT and ALP. Histological studies showed that treatment with 5 mg/kg of ZNP caused hepatocytes swelling, which was accompanied by congestion of RBC and accumulation of inflammatory cells. Apoptotic index was also significantly increased in this group. ZNP at the dose of 300 mg/kg had poor hepatotoxicity effect. Conclusion: It is concluded that lower doses of ZNP has more hepatotoxic effects on rats, and recommended to use it with caution if there is a hepatological problem.
QoS-driven power control in fading multiple-access channels with random arrivals

Power control policies in the fading multiple-access channels (MAC) with quality of service (QoS) constraints and random arrivals are studied. Perfect channel side information (CSI) is assumed to be available at both the transmitters and the receiver. Two types of Markovian sources, namely discrete Markov source and Markov fluid source, are considered. The maximum average arrival rates that can be supported in the fading multiple-access channel under QoS constraints are identified by incorporating the effective capacity of time-varying wireless transmission channels and effective bandwidth of random arrivals. The average throughput region is shown to be convex. Power control policies that maximize the weighted summation of the average arrival rates are characterized in the two-user case. Specifically, given the decoding order strategy, the conditions that the optimal power control policies must satisfy are determined, and an algorithm for the optimal power control policies is proposed for different source arrival models.
Magneto-elastic interaction in cubic helimagnets with B20 structure

The magneto-elastic interaction in cubic helimagnets with B 20 symmetry is considered. It is shown that this interaction is responsible for a negative contribution to the square of the spin-wave gap Δ and it alone appears to disrupt the assumed helical structure. It is suggested that competition between the positive part of ΔI2, which stems from magnon–magnon interaction, and its negative magneto-elastic part leads to the quantum phase transition observed at high pressure in MnSi and FeGe. This transition has to occur when . For MnSi it was shown using rough estimations that at ambient pressure both parts ΔI and |ΔME| are comparable with the experimentally observed gap. The magneto-elastic interaction is responsible for 2k modulation of the lattice where k is the helix wavevector and contributes to the magnetic anisotropy. Properties of the magnetic state above the quantum phase transition are also discussed. Experimental observation of the lattice modulation by x-ray and neutron scattering allows the determination of the strength of the anisotropic part of the magneto-elastic interaction responsible for the above phenomena and the lattice helicity.
FPGA based custom accelerator architecture framework for complex event processing

Complex Event Processing (CEP) is an emerging field in high performance computing paradigm where real time (low latency) computing capability is expected over big data processing (high throughput). Significant number of software architectures have been developed to improve the throughput while reduce the latency but maintaining of the both aspects reaches the limits of the software platforms. This paper proposes a novel custom hardware accelerator architecture framework for CEP in big data domain. The proposed design improves the throughput performance more than 10 times over the software counterpart while keeping the latency value at less than 100 nano seconds. Same Structured Query Language(SQL) type queries used in reference software architecture were used to improve the flexibility. A query compiler based on the same query language grammar was designed to convert the queries in to Hardware Description Language(HDL) modules. All modules were parameterized to improve the scalability of the design. Those generated modules were synthesized through vendor tools and programmed in to Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA) platform in order to implement the system. Proposed hardware architecture framework was verified using a sensor network data set of a football field and the results were compared with software counterpart to show the performance improvement.
A fast multiplier over GF (2^n)

In this paper we will present a hardware implementation of a GF(2n) polynomial basis multiplier that is twice as fast a the classical multiplier while requiring about 50 % more chip area. We implement a flexible scalar (or point) multiplier for elliptic curve cryptosystems using this multiplier and find that the flexible system performs almost twice as fast as compared with the classical multiplier.
Visual SLAM incorporating wheel odometer for indoor robots

An approach for incorporation of a wheel odometer in monocular visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) for indoor robots is proposed in this paper. It is based on nonlinear optimization parameterized in 6DoF (Degrees-of-Freedom) manifold SE(3), and constrains the robot poses to be in 3DoF space. Furthermore, to deal with the problem that in complicated indoor environment where the tracking of visual SLAM may easily get lost in some scenes with hardly any features, the approach creates new maps when new features are available and thus continuing estimating poses and feature positions to improve the robustness. The odometer can provide relative poses between maps, and when image overlaps are detected, the maps can be merged to a consistent one. Experiments are conducted on an indoor robot platform equipped with an upward-looking camera, and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Verifying Increasingly Expressive Temporal Logics for Infinite-State Systems

Temporal logic is a formal system for specifying and reasoning about propositions qualified in terms of time. It offers a unified approach to program verification as it applies to both sequential and parallel programs and provides a uniform framework for describing a system at any level of abstraction. Thus, a number of automated systems have been proposed to exclusively reason about either Computation-Tree Logic (CTL) or Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) in the infinite-state setting. Unfortunately, these logics have significantly reduced expressiveness as they restrict the interplay between temporal operators and path quantifiers, thus disallowing the expression of many practical properties, for example, “along some future an event occurs infinitely often. ” Contrarily, CTL*, a superset of both CTL and LTL, can facilitate the interplay between path-based and state-based reasoning. CTL* thus exclusively allows for the expressiveness of properties involving existential system stabilization and “possibility” properties. Until now, there have not existed automated systems that allow for the verification of such expressive CTL* properties over infinite-state systems. This article proposes a method capable of such a task, thus introducing the first known fully automated tool for symbolically proving CTL* properties of (infinite-state) integer programs. The method uses an internal encoding that admits reasoning about the subtle interplay between the nesting of temporal operators and path quantifiers that occurs within CTL* proofs. A program transformation is first employed that trades nondeterminism in the transition relation for nondeterminism explicit in variables predicting future outcomes when necessary. We then synthesize and quantify preconditions over the transformed program that represent program states that satisfy a CTL* formula. This article demonstrates the viability of our approach in practice, thus leading to a new class of fully-automated tools capable of proving crucial properties that no tool could previously prove. Additionally, we consider the linear-past extension to CTL* for infinite-state systems in which the past is linear and each moment in time has a unique past. We discuss the practice of this extension and how it is further supported through the use of history variables. We have implemented our approach and report our benchmarks carried out on case studies ranging from smaller programs to demonstrate the expressiveness of CTL* specifications, to larger code bases drawn from device drivers and various industrial examples.
T-lymphocyte Alloresponses of Campath-1H-Treated Kidney Transplant Patients

Background. Kidney transplant patients given Campath-1H (Alemtuzumab) immunodepletion therapy and long-term rapamycin monotherapy have excellent graft survival and function at three years. As an initial step in understanding the characteristics of repopulated T lymphocytes in these patients, we performed several assays to assess alloreactivity. Methods. We measured T-cell responses using CFSE-labeled recipient lymphocytes in a direct one-way MLR, and also analyzed the kinetics of expression of IFN-γ. We examined the T-cell responses of Campath-treated transplant patients on monotherapy versus those treated with anti-CD25 (Basiliximab) induction therapy and maintenance immunosuppression consisting of cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Results. On average, proliferative responses to donor antigen were equal between Campath and control groups. However, the Campath group displayed a greater response to third party compared to donor antigen (CD3+ P=0.04, CD4+ P=0.07, CD8+ P<0.01), whereas the control group did not display a greater response to third party (CD3+ P=0.69, CD4+ P=0.72, CD8+ P=0.60). Interestingly, more Campath patients (4 of 15) than control patients (0 of 8) displayed donor specific unresponsiveness as gauged by IFN-γ expression and T-cell proliferation (P=0.15). Conclusions. These studies suggest that Campath-1H in conjunction with rapamycin monotherapy retains intact immune responses to third party alloantigen, yet may promote hyporesponsiveness to donor antigen.
Surface‐weighted star volume: concept and estimation

The estimation of ‘size’ for an interconnected nonconvex phase is an ongoing problem in materials science and biomedicine. Examples of this type of phase include the pore space in a porous rock such as sandstone or the marrow space found in cancellous bone. A reasonable definition of size for this type of phase is provided by the mean volume‐weighted star volume. This is defined as the average volume of the phase of interest seen unobscured from a typical point within the phase. One practical advantage of this definition of size is that it is easy to estimate stereologically. In this paper we extend the concept of star volume to consider the mean surface‐weighted star volume. The mean surface‐weighted star volume is the volume of a continuous phase seen unobscured from a typical point of the interface. We expect that this parameter could be useful in biological problems involving mass transfer across an interface. The stereological estimation of mean surface‐weighted star volume is described and the method is illustrated on piglet lung tissue.
Modification of STIM1 by O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) Attenuates Store-operated Calcium Entry in Neonatal Cardiomyocytes*

Background: Increased cellular O-GlcNAc levels decrease store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), however, the mechanism is not understood. STIM1 regulates SOCE, but effect of O-GlcNAc on STIM1 function is not known. Results: Increased cardiomyocyte O-GlcNAcylation attenuated STIM1 puncta formation, SOCE and increased O-GlcNAc modification of STIM1. Conclusion: O-GlcNAc modification of STIM1 plays a key role in regulating SOCE. Significance: Protein O-GlcNAcylation regulates SOCE, a central Ca2+ signaling pathway. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is a major Ca2+ signaling pathway responsible for regulating numerous transcriptional events. In cardiomyocytes SOCE has been shown to play an important role in regulating hypertrophic signaling pathways, including nuclear translocation of NFAT. Acute activation of pathways leading to O-GlcNAc synthesis have been shown to impair SOCE-mediated transcription and in diabetes, where O-GlcNAc levels are chronically elevated, cardiac hypertrophic signaling is also impaired. Therefore the goal of this study was to determine whether changes in cardiomyocyte O-GlcNAc levels impaired the function of STIM1, a widely recognized mediator of SOCE. We demonstrated that acute activation of SOCE in neonatal cardiomyocytes resulted in STIM1 puncta formation, which was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by increasing O-GlcNAc synthesis with glucosamine or inhibiting O-GlcNAcase with thiamet-G. Glucosamine and thiamet-G also inhibited SOCE and were associated with increased O-GlcNAc modification of STIM1. These results suggest that activation of cardiomyocyte O-GlcNAcylation attenuates SOCE via STIM1 O-GlcNAcylation and that this may represent a new mechanism by which increased O-GlcNAc levels regulate Ca2+-mediated events in cardiomyocytes. Further, since SOCE is a fundamental mechanism underlying Ca2+ signaling in most cells and tissues, it is possible that STIM1 represents a nexus linking protein O-GlcNAcylation with Ca2+-mediated transcription.
A Monocarboxylate Transporter MCT1 is Located at the Basolateral Pole of Rat Jejunum

We have functionally expressed and identified a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1) from rat jejunal enterocyte and we provide evidence for its basolateral localization. Poly(A)+ RNA isolated from rat jejunum was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes and expression of a proton‐lactate symporter was investigated by means of L‐[14C]lactate uptake. The existence of an endogenous capacity for L‐lactate transport was demonstrated; when, however, oocytes were injected with jejunal mRNA, an expressed L‐lactate uptake was seen which differed from the endogenous transporter since it was significantly pH dependent. After sucrose density gradient fractionation, the highest expression of the pH‐dependent lactate uptake was detected with the mRNA size fraction of about 2‐3 kb in length. The substrate specificity, stereoselectivity and sensitivity to pCMBS (an organomercurial thiol reagent that modifies cysteine residues) of the expressed transport were in good agreement with results previously obtained using isolated jejunal basolateral membranes. Using the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, the presence of mRNA coding for the MCT1 isoform was demonstrated in jejunal enterocytes. These data, together with previous results, suggest that MCT1 is a major route for lactate efflux across the basolateral membrane of rat jejunum; this is in contrast to current opinion which restricts the presence of MCT1 to the apical membrane of the whole small intestine.
EFFECT OF GENETIC LINE ON LIPID CHARACTERISTICS OF RABBIT MUSCLE

The effect of genetic line on intramuscular fat content, perirenal fat content and the activity of some enzymes related to lipid metabolism was studied. Longissimus (LD) and Semimembranosus proprius (SP) muscles were used in this experiment. A total of 60 animals from three lines (A, V and R) selected for different criteria were slaughtered at 9 and 13 weeks of age. Differences between lines were found for intramuscular fat (IMF) and perirenal fat content (PF), having line A higher values than V and R. IMF and PF content were positively correlated in line A and V, but no relationship was found in line R. PF increased with age in three lines, whereas IMF increased only in line A and V. SP muscle showed higher lipogenic activities (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and fatty acid synthase (FAS)) than LD. A line effect was observed for lipogenic activities. Line A had higher lipogenic activity and line R showed lower activity. An increase of G6PDH and malic enzyme activities with age was observed. Glycolytic activity was higher in LD, whereas SP showed higher oxidative activity. An influence of genetic line was found for oxidative enzymes in SP, HAD and CS activity was higher in line R compared with A and V. The LDH activity increased with age in both muscles, while the HAD activity decreased in LD. Results from this study indicate that genetic line has an effect on intramuscular fat deposition and related characteristics that could lead to differences in meat quality.
Fibrinogen, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, and Carotid Intima-Media Wall Thickness in the NHLBI Family Heart Study

Summary Several studies have linked higher plasma fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) concentrations with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We studied whether members of families with increased occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) have increased levels of fibrinogen and PAI-1 and whether subclinical carotid atherosclerosis is associated with these two hemostatic factors. Contrary to our hypothesis, fibrinogen and PAI-1 antigen levels were not different between high CHD risk families versus random families. Adjusted for age and family type, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were both associated positively with carotid intima-media thickness assessed by B-mode ultrasound. However, adjustment for lifestyle and medical covariates essentially eliminated these associations. These data suggest 1) elevated fibrinogen and PAI-1 do not explain clustering of CHD in families and 2) fibrinogen and PAI-1 may partly mediate the effects of other risk factors on carotid atherosclerosis, though the data are also consistent with them playing no causal role.
New insights into the biogenesis of human high-density lipoproteins

Purpose of review The interest for the human HDL system was recently revived by the identification of the ABCA1 as a critical component in the formation and maintenance of plasma HDL levels. The present review focuses on recent progress in our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying HDL biogenesis pathways. Recent findings Several novel mechanisms governing ABCA1/apoA-I interactions have recently been identified: apolipoprotein A-I activates ABCA1 phosphorylation through the cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent pathway; the majority of ABCA1 exists as a tetramer in human living cell, supporting the concept that the homotetrameric ABCA1 complex constitutes the minimum functional unit for the formation of nascent HDL particles; apolipoprotein A-I has been shown to have a recycling retroendocytic pathway with uptake and resecretion of the lipidated nascent HDL particles by the cell, most likely through the ABCA1 transporter pathway; there is evidence that the speciation of nascent HDL into pre-β and α-HDL is linked to specific cell lines, and occurs by both ABCA1-dependent and independent pathways. Summary The fundamental mechanisms underlying the biogenesis, speciation and maturation of HDL remain complex and not well understood. Understanding the mechanisms governing HDL genesis at the cellular level could provide novel insights into the human atheroprotective system in health and disease.
Bone marrow transplantation ameliorates pathology in interleukin‐10 knockout colitic mice

The authors have previously reported the derivation of colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs) in both humans and mice from bone marrow (BM). In the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, colonic SEMFs mediate several types of inflammatory response. In the present study, interleukin (IL)‐10−/− mice were used as a model of IBD to investigate the involvement of BM‐derived cells in the inflamed mucosa. Male whole BM [either C57/BL10 (wild type: WT) or IL‐10−/− donor mice] was used to perform bone marrow transplantation (BMT) into both WT and IL‐10−/− female mice. Tissue samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for α‐smooth muscle actin expression and by in situ hybridization using a Y‐chromosome‐specific probe to track the donor‐derived colonic SEMFs. The mucosal expression of mRNA for pro‐inflammatory cytokines was analysed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). In addition, mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐7 and osteopontin in the inflamed mucosa was assessed using in situ hybridization. Body weights and histological scores showed that IL‐10−/− mice that received WT BM had an improved course of colitis, decreased mucosal pro‐inflammatory mRNA expression, and up to 30% of their SEMFs were of BM origin. Conversely, IL‐10−/− mice receiving IL‐10−/− BM progressed to extensive colitis, and Y probe analysis revealed that up to 45% of colonic SEMFs were of BM origin. WT mice receiving IL‐10−/− or WT BM had no signs of colonic inflammation. The expression of MMP‐7 and osteopontin was up‐regulated in the inflamed mucosa. In conclusion, IL‐10−/− mice displayed ameliorated disease activity after WT BMT, whilst colitis was not induced in WT mice by IL‐10−/− BMT. The contribution of BM‐derived cells to colonic SEMFs was significantly increased in the inflamed mucosa compared with non‐inflamed mucosa. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Portulaca oleraceae L. extracts on the Morphine Dependence in Mice

ObjectiveThis study was initiated to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleraceae on morphine dependence in mice.Materials and MethodsDependence was induced using the subcutaneous injections of morphine for 3 days. On the day 4, morphineinjected 2 h prior to intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The plant extracts ethanolic or aqueousadministered 0.5 h before the final dose of morphine. The number of jumping during the 30 min period after naloxone injection was considered as a measure of withdrawal syndrome.ResultsBoth extracts reduced the jumping episodes dose-dependently. The maximum effect was observed at dosesof 0.28 g/kg and 1.4 g/kg for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Clonidine and extractsdecreased the total activity in locomotion test.ConclusionThese findings indicated that Portulacea oleraceae extracts can decrease morphine dependence in mice.