Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resveratrol Attenuates CoCl2-Induced Cochlear Hair Cell Damage through Upregulation of Sirtuin1 and NF-κB Deacetylation

The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of hypoxia on cochlear hair cell damage, and to explore the role of sirtuin1 in hypoxia-induced hair cell damage. Cochlear organotypic cultures from postnatal day 4 rats were used in this study. Hypoxia was induced by treating cochlear explants with CoCl2. Cochlear cultures were treated with CoCl2 alone or in combination with the sirtuin1 activator resveratrol and the sirtuin1 inhibitor sirtinol. Hair cell damage was identified by phalloidin staining and imaged using scanning electron microscopy. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were used to detect the expression of sirtuin1 and acetylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Low concentrations of CoCl2 (100–200 μM) did not cause an obvious change in the number and morphology of hair cells, whereas higher concentrations of CoCl2 (300–400 μM) induced swelling of hair cells, accompanied by cell loss. Increased sirtuin1 expression was induced by CoCl2 at 100 to 200 μM, but not at 400 μM. NF-κB acetylation was significantly increased in explants treated with 400 μM CoCl2. Pretreatment with resveratrol prevented CoCl2-induced hair cell loss and acetylation of NF-κB. The protective effect of resveratrol was significantly reduced by sirtinol. CoCl2 induces hair cell damage in organotypic cochleae cultures. Resveratrol attenuates CoCl2-induced cochlear hair cell damage possibly via activation of sirtuin1, which deacetylates NF-κB.
Thrombin Is a Potent Inducer of Connective Tissue Growth Factor Production via Proteolytic Activation of Protease-activated Receptor-1*

The coagulation protease thrombin plays a critical role in hemostasis and exerts pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic effects via proteolytic activation of the major thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel fibroblast mitogen and also promotes extracellular matrix protein production. It is selectively induced by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and is thought to be the autocrine agent responsible for mediating its pro-fibrotic effects. CTGF is up-regulated during tissue repair and in fibrotic conditions associated with activation of the coagulation cascade. We therefore hypothesized that coagulation proteases promote the production of CTGF by cells at sites of tissue injury. To begin to address this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of coagulation proteases on fibroblast CTGF expression in vitro, and we show that thrombin, at physiological concentrations, up-regulated CTGF mRNA levels 5-fold relative to base line (p < 0.01) in fetal fibroblasts and 7-fold in primary adult fibroblasts (p < 0.01). These effects were cycloheximide-insensitive and were not blocked with a pan-specific TGF-β-neutralizing antibody. They were further paralleled by a concomitant increase in CTGF protein production and could be mimicked with selective PAR-1 agonists. In addition, fibroblasts derived from PAR-1 knockout mice were unresponsive to thrombin but responded normally to TGF-β1. Finally, factor Xa, which is responsible for activating prothrombin during blood coagulation, exerted similar stimulatory effects. We propose that coagulation proteases and PAR-1 may play a role in promoting connective tissue formation during normal tissue repair and the development of fibrosis by up-regulating fibroblast CTGF expression.
Regulation of components of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphate‐starvation‐inducible regulon in Escherichia coli

Plasmids pPBP and pRS‐XP containing the cloned genes for the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphate‐starvation‐ inducible periplasmic phosphate‐binding protein and outer membrane porin P (oprP), respectively, were introduced into various Escherichia coli Pho‐regulon regulatory mutants. Using Western immunoblots and specific antisera, the production of both gene products was observed to be under the control of regulatory elements of the E. coli Pho regulon. Sequencing of the region upstream of the translational start site of the oprP gene revealed a ‘Pho box’ with strong homology to the E. coli consensus ‘Pho box’, the putative binding site of the PhoB activator. Since P. aeruginosa and E. coli belong to different families and have quite different GC contents, these data suggest strong evolutionary conservation of regulatory elements of the Pho regulon.
Group Therapy as an Ecological Bridge to New Community for Trauma Survivors

Abstract Group therapy counteracts the isolating effects of interpersonal trauma and enables survivors to connect with sources of resilience within themselves and others. By providing an alternative relational experience in which the survivor and her safety are valued, groups empower members to establish self-affirming and supportive relationships in their outside lives. The current paper reviews the psychological impact of chronic interpersonal violence and the relevant literature regarding group therapy for trauma survivors. We describe an approach to group treatment for complexly traumatized patients developed at the Victims of Violence Program, and through a clinical vignette, illustrate some of the ways in which group therapy can expand the relational world of survivors.
Misdiagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attacks in the Emergency Room

Background: To determine a pattern of symptoms and/or risk factors that distinguishes transient ischemic attack (TIA) from nonischemic causes of transient neurologic attacks (NI-TNA). Methods: We reviewed demographic, clinical, and hospital data on 100 consecutive patients with transient focal neurologic episode(s) lasting less than 24 h and in whom the initial diagnosis was TIA. After inpatient evaluation and review, final diagnoses were made by two stroke neurologists. Using stepwise multivariable logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios (OR) for independent predictors of NI-TNA. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of the 100 patients, 40 were confirmed to have TIA and 60 NI-TNA. Compared to TIA patients, those with NI-TNA were less likely to be male and white but more likely to have a history of prior unexplained TNA, gradual symptom onset, associated nonspecific symptoms, longer symptom duration, and delayed presentation. Other variables were similar between the two groups. In a multivariable logistic regression model, gradual symptom onset (adjusted OR 6.7, p = 0.002), prior history of unexplained transient neurologic attack (adjusted OR 10.6, p = 0.031), and presence of nonspecific symptoms (adjusted OR 4.2, p = 0.008) were independent predictors of the final diagnosis of NI-TNA. Conclusions: Distinguishing TIA from nonischemic causes is difficult in the emergency room, with 60% of suspected TIA patients having nonischemic causes on inpatient evaluation. We found 3 clinical features that may be useful in the emergency room triage of transient neurologic attacks. Further study is needed to develop tools that can accurately diagnose TIA.
Solution-processed flexible memristors

We have fabricated and characterized a device that demonstrates both traditional memory behavior and memristive behavior and is compatible for use with flexible electronic technologies. Because the device exhibits both memory and memristive behaviors, it has the potential for use as nonvolatile binary memory in flexible or rigid electronics, as well as for use as a memristive component in an entirely new paradigm of computing.
Docking of PRAK/MK5 to the Atypical MAPKs ERK3 and ERK4 Defines a Novel MAPK Interaction Motif*

ERK3 and ERK4 are atypical MAPKs in which the canonical TXY motif within the activation loop of the classical MAPKs is replaced by SEG. Both ERK3 and ERK4 bind, translocate, and activate the MAPK-activated protein kinase (MK) 5. The classical MAPKs ERK1/2 and p38 interact with downstream MKs (RSK1–3 and MK2–3, respectively) through conserved clusters of acidic amino acids, which constitute the common docking (CD) domain. In contrast to the classical MAPKs, the interaction between ERK3/4 and MK5 is strictly dependent on phosphorylation of the SEG motif of these kinases. Here we report that the conserved CD domain is dispensable for the interaction of ERK3 and ERK4 with MK5. Using peptide overlay assays, we have defined a novel MK5 interaction motif (FRIEDE) within both ERK4 and ERK3 that is essential for binding to the C-terminal region of MK5. This motif is located within the L16 extension lying C-terminal to the CD domain in ERK3 and ERK4 and a single isoleucine to lysine substitution in FRIEDE totally abrogates binding, activation, and translocation of MK5 by both ERK3 and ERK4. These findings are the first to demonstrate binding of a physiological substrate via this region of the L16 loop in a MAPK. Furthermore, the link between activation loop phosphorylation and accessibility of the FRIEDE interaction motif suggests a switch mechanism for these atypical MAPKs in which the phosphorylation status of the activation loop regulates the ability of both ERK3 and ERK4 to bind to a downstream effector.
Generalized Weyl solutions

It was shown by Weyl that the general static axisymmetric solution of the vacuum Einstein equations in four dimensions is given in terms of a single axisymmetric solution of the Laplace equation in three-dimensional flat space. Weyl’s construction is generalized here to arbitrary dimension D>4. The general solution of the D-dimensional vacuum Einstein equations that admits D22 orthogonal commuting non-null Killing vector fields is given either in terms of D23 independent axisymmetric solutions of Laplace’s equation in threedimensional flat space or by D24 independent solutions of Laplace’s equation in two-dimensional flat space. Explicit examples of new solutions are given. These include a five-dimensional asymptotically flat ‘‘black ring’’ with an event horizon of topology S 1 3S 2 held in equilibrium by a conical singularity in the form of a disk.
Le contrat en tant qu'échange économique

[fre] Le contrat est une notion juridique fonctionnelle visant principalement a l'echange des biens et des services. C'est un accord de volontes destine a produire des effets de droit dont la force obligatoire depend de sa conformite au droit objectif. Il doit etre conforme a ses finalites objectives, l'utile et le juste. De la premiere se deduisent les principes subordonnes de securite juridique et de cooperation et de la seconde la recherche de l'egalite des prestations par le respect d'une procedure contractuelle effectivement correcte et equitable. [eng] Contract is a fonctional notion. His most important goal is the exchange of goods and services. It is a bilateral consent of wills to this end of create some juridical effects. It is compulsory only if it is conform with objective Law, i. e. to his objective finalitys : utility and justice. From the first one results the subordinate principles of security and cooperation and from the second one the research of equality of the exchange by a procedure effectively fair.
Predictive distance-based mobility management for multidimensional PCS networks

This paper presents a mobile tracking scheme that exploits the predictability of user mobility patterns in wireless PCS networks. In this scheme, a mobile's future location is predicted by the network, based on the information gathered from the mobile's recent report of location and velocity. When a call is made, the network pages the destination mobile around the predicted location. A mobile makes the same location prediction as the network does; it inspects its own location periodically and reports the new location when the distance between the predicted and the actual locations exceeds a threshold. To more realistically represent the various degrees of velocity correlation in time, a Gauss-Markov mobility model is used. For practical systems where the mobility pattern varies over time, we propose a dynamic Gauss-Markov parameter estimator that provides the mobility parameters to the prediction algorithm.Based on the Gauss-Markov model, we describe an analytical framework to evaluate the cost of mobility management for the proposed scheme. We also present an approximation method that reduces the computational complexity of the cost evaluation for multidimensional systems. We then compare the cost of predictive mobility management against that of the regular, nonpredictive distance-based scheme, for both the case with ideal Gauss-Markov mobility pattern and the case with time-varying mobility pattern.The performance advantage of the proposed scheme is demonstrated under various mobility patterns, call patterns, location inspection cost, location updating cost, mobile paging cost, and frequencies of mobile location inspections. As a point of reference, prediction can reduce the mobility management cost by more than 50% for all systems, where a the mobile users have moderate mean velocity and where performing a single location update is as least as expensive as paging a mobile in one cell.
A multiscale approach to mesh-based surface tension flows

We present an approach to simulate flows driven by surface tension based on triangle meshes. Our method consists of two simulation layers: the first layer is an Eulerian method for simulating surface tension forces that is free from typical strict time step constraints. The second simulation layer is a Lagrangian finite element method that simulates sub-grid scale wave details on the fluid surface. The surface wave simulation employs an unconditionally stable, symplectic time integration method that allows for a high propagation speed due to strong surface tension. Our approach can naturally separate the grid- and sub-grid scales based on a volume-preserving mean curvature flow. As our model for the sub-grid dynamics enforces a local conservation of mass, it leads to realistic pinch off and merging effects. In addition to this method for simulating dynamic surface tension effects, we also present an efficient non-oscillatory approximation for capturing damped surface tension behavior. These approaches allow us to efficiently simulate complex phenomena associated with strong surface tension, such as Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities and crown splashes, in a short amount of time.
A Survey of Generative Analyses of the Verb Second Phenomenon in Germanic

This paper reviews various approaches to describe the verb second phenomenon of Germanic languages within generative transformational grammar. The solution to the descriptive problem seems to be to assume that the finite verb in main clauses has the same position as the complementizer in subordinate clauses. Various ways to explain the presence of this word order in Germanic languages are presented in the final part of the paper.
A Study of Component-Level Measure of Board-Level Drop Impact Reliability by Ball Impact Test

This paper presents a study of the resistance of solder joints to failure when subjected to strain rates that simulate the conditions of drop impact on a portable electronic product. Two test methods are used in this study: board-level drop/shock test (BLDT) and component-level ball impact test (BIT). The performance of 12 material combinations consisting of 6 solder alloys and 2 pad finishes were investigated using these two test methods, and analysis of correlations between the methods was performed. Quantitative correlation and sensitivity coefficients for the failure modes and the measured characteristics, namely, number of drops to failure for BLDT and peak load, total fracture energy, and energy to peak load for BIT, were evaluated. Analysis of the test results indicates that there is a lack of universal correlation between BLDT and BIT. Nevertheless, BIT can still serve as a test methodology for quality assurance in view of the strong correlation between the measured BIT characteristics and the failure mode. The total fracture energy parameter is preferred over the peak load and energy to peak load due to its higher sensitivity and reduced susceptibility to measurement error.
Phonetic Structures of Western Apache

L'apache occidental est une langue athapaskan du sud parlee principalement dans les reserves de San Carlos et de White Mountain Apache, situees en Arizona central de l'est. La presente etude se base sur une liste d'environ 150 mots provenant de cette langue pour dresser les nombreux principaux traits phonetiques, comprenant le temps d'attaque de voix, de la duree de la fermeture des occlusives, des proprietes spectrales des fricatives et enfin de la duree et de la qualite des voyelles.
Everything is Psycholinguistics: Material and Methodological Considerations in the Study of Compound Processing

Abstract Compound words allow us to investigate lexical storage, retrieval, and interpretation. The role of storage and computation in compound processing is reviewed. It is claimed that morphological processing is automatic and obligatory, and that multi-morphemic words require resolution of a conflict between whole-word and constituent activation. This leads to the conclusion that morphological constituents are created through morphological processing so that strawberry comes to be composed of straw- and -berry; these constituents are positionally bound so that berry-, -berry, and berry are distinct processing units. This proliferation of morphological representations resolves long-standing puzzles concerning semantic transparency and challenges traditional psycholinguistic approaches that investigate the effect of some independent variable (such as semantic transparency) on task performance as a dependent variable. It is suggested that psycholinguistic inquiry may be understood as the study of the correlation of dependent variables within the language processing system.
A vowel and semivowel synthesizer for prompt and expressive communication

In face-to-face communication, we mainly use the sound of our voice. Sound has many roles. For example, it transmit information as language, the emotion, the personality of the vocalizers, and so on. Therefor voice disorders cause much trouble in communicating with others. The people suffering from voice disorders use voice synthesizers, but they are not able to transmit all of the sound information. Even if they can clearly produce sounds of each word, they cannot produce them promptly and emotionally. We are trying to develop voice synthesizers that support prompt and expressive communication. Engineering seeks to keep existing functions and to improve devices to cover such disadvantages. On the other hand, this paper focuses on establishing human communication that eliminates existing functions and improves devices in another direction. Even though our proposed voice synthesizer can only produce the sounds of vowels and semivowels, it represents the stress and accent of sounds with rich inflection by synchronization with hand action. This paper also reports some experiments on its ability. The experimental results prove that vowel identification exceeds 80% and that a continuous shift of the sound is better than a discrete change for human perception.
A lower isoelectric point increases signal sequence–mediated secretion of recombinant proteins through a bacterial ABC transporter

Efficient protein production for industrial and academic purposes often involves engineering microorganisms to produce and secrete target proteins into the culture. Pseudomonas fluorescens has a TliDEF ATP-binding cassette transporter, a type I secretion system, which recognizes C-terminal LARD3 signal sequence of thermostable lipase TliA. Many proteins are secreted by TliDEF in vivo when recombined with LARD3, but there are still others that cannot be secreted by TliDEF even when LARD3 is attached. However, the factors that determine whether or not a recombinant protein can be secreted through TliDEF are still unknown. Here, we recombined LARD3 with several proteins and examined their secretion through TliDEF. We found that the proteins secreted via LARD3 are highly negatively charged with highly-acidic isoelectric points (pI) lower than 5.5. Attaching oligo-aspartate to lower the pI of negatively-charged recombinant proteins improved their secretion, and attaching oligo-arginine to negatively-charged proteins blocked their secretion by LARD3. In addition, negatively supercharged green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed improved secretion, whereas positively supercharged GFP did not secrete. These results disclosed that proteins' acidic pI and net negative charge are major factors that determine their secretion through TliDEF. Homology modeling for TliDEF revealed that TliD dimer forms evolutionarily-conserved positively-charged clusters in its pore and substrate entrance site, which also partially explains the pI dependence of the TliDEF-dependent secretions. In conclusion, lowering the isoelectric point improved LARD3-mediated protein secretion, both widening the range of protein targets for efficient production via secretion and signifying an important aspect of ABC transporter–mediated secretions.
HELICOBACTER COLONIZATION OF THE BILIARY TREE: COMMENSAL, PATHOGEN, OR SPURIOUS FINDING?

ABSTRACTThe authors hypothesized that Helicobacter species may be present in the bile and gallbladder wall of patients with chronic cholecystitis who live in a region with a high prevalence of gallbladder cancer. They attempted to identify such species by obtaining both bile and resected gallbladder tissue from 46 patients who underwent cholecystectomy. Tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin as well as other stains used specifically for the identification of Helicobacter species, and culture was attempted using specialized media on samples from tissue and bile. Unfortunately, the authors were unable to culture any Helicobacter species, and the yield from histopathology was also poor with silver stains identifying curved bacteria suggestive, but not diagnostic, of Helicobacter species in only two cases. Molecular techniques were more successful. DNA was extracted from both tissue and bile and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a specific primer. The amplicons they identified were then compared with known Helicobacter proteins using a Southern blot approach. PCR amplification was relatively successful with 9 of 23 gallbladder samples and 13 of the 23 bile samples coming up positive for Helicobacter species using two specific primers. These specimens were also positive by Southern blot hybridization. The cloning and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA amplicons in eight cases verified true Helicobacter origin with a phylogenetic analysis showing greater than 99.3% similarity. Five of the amplicons clustered with H. bilis, two with Flexispira rappini, and one with H. pullorum. The authors concluded that despite their being unable to identify organisms directly, the stringent PCR technique with amplicon sequencing confirmed that Helicobacter species could be identified within the bile and gallbladder tissue of patients with chronic cholecystitis in a region with high incidence of gallbladder cancer. They indicated that further studies are needed to ascertain whether similar species have a causative role in the development of gallbladder cancer.
RAPID ACQUISITION OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (GERMAN) BY THE AVOIDANCE OF SPEAKING

C'est un fait generalement admis que, dans l'apprentissage de la langue maternelle, la comprehension precede la production d'ä peu pres un an. Cet ordre — d'abord comprendre, ensuite parier — est considere par les auteurs de cette contribution comme une qualite fonctionnelle du cerveau humain dont il faudrait aussi tenir compte dans Penseignement des langues. Ceci implique que Peleve ne doit pas commencer a parier avant d'etre arrive a comprendre sans effort une conversation courante dans la langue cible. A base de cette conviction et en tenant 'compte d'autres paralleles entre le premier apprentissage linguistique de Penfant et Papprentissage d'une deuxieme langue, les auteurs de Particle ont developpe des materiaux d'enseignement consistant en 13 lecons (allemand pour Americains) a presenter mecaniquement et qu'ils ont ensuite testes dans leur enseignement. Les resultats de ces experiences sont discutes.