Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Individual Contributions of Igα (CD79a)- and Igβ (CD79b)-Mediated Tonic Signaling for Bone Marrow B Cell Development and Peripheral B Cell Maturation1

The individual contribution of Igα and Igβ for BCR-triggered fates is unclear. Prior evidence supports conflicting ideas concerning unique as well as redundant functions for these proteins in the context of BCR/pre-BCR signaling. Part of this ambiguity may reflect the recent appreciation that Igα and Igβ participate in both Ag-independent (tonic) and Ag-dependent signaling. The present study undertook defining the individual requirement for Igα and Igβ under conditions where only ligand-independent tonic signaling was operative. In this regard, we have constructed chimeric proteins containing one or two copies of the cytoplasmic domains of either Igα or Igβ and Igα/Igβ heterodimers with targeted Tyr→Phe modifications. The ability of these proteins to act as surrogate receptors and trigger early bone marrow and peripheral B cell maturation was tested in RAG2−/− primary pro-B cell lines and in gene transfer experiments in the μMT mouse model. We considered that the threshold for a functional activity mediated by the pre-BCR/BCR might only be reached when two functional copies of the Igα/Igβ ITAM domain are expressed together, and therefore the specificity conferred by these proteins can only be observed in these conditions. We found that the ligand-independent tonic signal is sufficient to drive development into mature follicular B cells and both Igα and Igβ chains supported formation of this population. In contrast, neither marginal zone nor B1 mature B cell subsets develop from bone marrow precursors under conditions where only tonic signals are generated.
Phosphorylcholine coating of ePTFE reduces platelet deposition and neointimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous grafts.

In an attempt to reduce platelet deposition and inhibit neointimal hyperplasia, we evaluated the effect of coating expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts with phosphorylcholine (PC), a lipid found in animal cell membranes, in a dog model of femoral arteriovenous (AV) grafts. Eight mongrel dogs underwent placement of a PC-coated femoral AV graft on one side and an untreated control graft on the contralateral side. Platelet deposition was measured by autologous 111Indium-labeling and scintillation camera imaging analysis. Platelet deposition on the PC-coated grafts at 30 and 90 min. was 9.32 +/- 4.35 x 10(9) and 10.00 +/- 4.38 x 10(9), respectively, as compared with 10.26 +/- 4.36 x 10(9) and 11.64 +/- 5.08 x 10(9) platelet deposition on control grafts (P < 0.05). All grafts were patent at 4 weeks. There was a significant reduction of neointimal area at both arterial (0.07 +/- 0.05 mm2) and venous (0. 18 +/- 0.09 mm2) anastomoses in the treated grafts as compared with arterial (0.15 +/- 0.05 mm2) and venous (0.43 +/- 0.22 mm2) anastomoses in the control grafts (P < 0.05). In addition, neointimal cell proliferation assayed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation was reduced in both arterial (2.05 +/- 0.81%) and venous (3.25 +/- 0.17%) anastomoses of treated grafts compared with arterial (3.12 +/- 1.23%) and venous (5.36 +/- 1.18%) anastomoses of control grafts (P < 0.05). These data demonstrated that PC coating of ePTFE grafts significantly reduced platelet deposition, anastomotic neointimal hyperplasia, and neointimal cell proliferation in a dog model of AV grafts. This may represent a new strategy for prolonging hemodialysis graft patency.
Evaluation of Nine Strategies for Analyzing a cDNA Toxicology Microarray Data Set

ABSTRACT Microarray technology with two-color–based cDNA is commonly used for drug development, as well as for a much broader range of biomedical research. Among all the applications, two-group design is probably most commonly used for comparing, e.g., normal and abnormal tissue samples, tissues treated and untreated, or individuals responded and not responded to a drug. Despite the apparent simplicity, there are numerous methods for analyzing such data in a statistically rigorous manner. Here, we discuss nine different analytical strategies, each of which is derived under a set of “reasonable” assumptions. Some of them resemble methods developed for different contexts. In the absence of the truth, investigators should consider underlying assumptions before taking one or more of these strategies for analyzing data from a particular experiment. The issue here is what are the similarities and differences between these analytical strategies. We present these strategies in the context of an actual microarray experiment performed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Application Effect of Biochar on Rice

New technology of dry distillation under hypoxia condition was used for made biochar (biomass-derived black carbon). The effects of biochar application on rice were studied by pot experiment. Before rice transplant, soil were treated with three different weight levels of biochar and no biochar as control(CK). The results show that biochar amendments in rice soil could boost height of rice, and also increased the dry matter accumulation of leaf, stem and root at various growth stage. The rice net photosynthetic rates of biochar treatments were higher than control. Transpiration rate of biochar treatment was increased at the tillering stage and filling stage, declined at the jointing stage and heading stage as well. Rice yield per hill of biochar treatments were higher than control for the main reason of the panicles per hill and spikelets per panicle increased. The rice yield of C2 (20g·kg−1 biochar amendment) was the highest which significant difference compared with other treatments. Rice milling and appearance quality of biochar treatments were better than control with brown rice rate, milled rice rate and head rice rate were increased while the chalky grain rate and chalkiness were decreased. Rice protein and fatty acid content of biochar treatments were decreased, but the rice cooking quality was significantly increased.
Accommodating difference?: British trade unions and Polish migrant workers

This article examines and evaluates the experiences of British unions in recruiting and organizing Polish migrant workers. It concludes that while British unions have been pursuing a range of relevant initiatives that seem to address key challenges confronting the recruitment and organization of such workers, these initiatives embody a number of significant weaknesses that cast doubts over their long-term outcomes.
Growth and distribution after the 2007â€“2008 US financial crisis: who shouldered the burden of the crisis?

The post-1980 era witnessed an increase in the frequency and severity of financial crises around the globe, the majority of which took place in low- and middle-income countries. Studies of the impacts of these crises have identified three broad sets of consequences. First, the burden of crises falls disproportionately on labor in general and low-income segments of society in particular. In the years following financial crises, wages and labor share of income fall, the rate of unemployment increases, the power of labor and labor unions is eroded, and income inequality and rates of poverty increase. Capital as a whole, on the other hand, usually recovers quickly and most of the time gains more ground. Second, the consequences of crises are visible not only through asset and income distribution, but also in government policies. Government policies in most cases favor capital, especially financial capital, at the expense of large masses. In addition, many crises have presented opportunities for further deregulation and liberalization, not only in financial markets but in the rest of the economy as well. Third, in the aftermath of financial crises in low- and middle-income economies, capital inflows may increase as international capital seeks to take advantage of the crisis and acquire domestic financial and non-financial assets. The 2007â€“2008 financial crisis in the US provides an opportunity to extend this analysis to a leading high-income country and see if the patterns visible in other crises are also visible in this case. Using the questions and issues typically raised in examinations of low- and middle- income countries, we study the consequences of the 2007â€“2008 US financial crisis and complement the budding literature on the â€˜Great Recession. â€™ In particular, we examine the impacts of the crisis on labor and capital, with a focus on distributional effects of the crisis such as changes in income shares of labor and capital, and the evolution of inequality and poverty. We also analyse the role of government policies through a study of government taxation and spending policies, and examine capital flow patterns.
Analysis of the behaviour of prices of food products on local markets in Rwanda : a methodological approach using equilibrium model

The present article is concerned by the main theoretical stages of the Error Correction Model (ECM) and its application. The first part starts with the analysis of the stationarity of the series followed by the cointegration test of Johansen and then the estimation of the ECM. The second part gives details of the application of this methodological approach on real data. This study has established that the current price of beans on the market is dependent on the price of white maize flour observed for two days in the first and the second quarter.
Rationalizing antibiotic use to limit antibiotic resistance in India+

Antibiotic resistance, a global concern, is particularly pressing in developing nations, including India, where the burden of infectious disease is high and healthcare spending is low. The Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP) was established to develop actionable policy recommendations specifically relevant to low- and middle-income countries where suboptimal access to antibiotics - not a major concern in high-income countries - is possibly as severe a problem as is the spread of resistant organisms. This report summarizes the situation as it is known regarding antibiotic use and growing resistance in India and recommends short and long term actions. Recommendations aim at (i) reducing the need for antibiotics; (ii) lowering resistance-enhancing drug pressure through improved antibiotic targeting, and (iii) eliminating antibiotic use for growth promotion in agriculture. The highest priority needs to be given to (i) national surveillance of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use - better information to underpin decisions on standard treatment guidelines, education and other actions, as well as to monitor changes over time; (ii) increasing the use of diagnostic tests, which necessitates behavioural changes and improvements in microbiology laboratory capacity; (iii) setting up and/or strengthening infection control committees in hospitals; and (iv) restricting the use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic uses in agriculture. These interventions should help to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance, improve public health directly, benefit the populace and reduce pressure on the healthcare system. Finally, increasing the types and coverage of childhood vaccines offered by the government would reduce the disease burden enormously and spare antibiotics.
Primitive-streak origin of the cardiovascular system in avian embryos.

The origin of the avian cardiovascular system from the primitive streak has been mapped by the construction of quail/chick transplantation chimeras, the use of QH-1 (an antiquail endothelial/endocardial cell marker), and injections of a vital fluorescent dye (DiI) into the primitive streak. Our studies reveal that the prospective heart, including its endocardial and myocardial layers and the adjacent parietal pericardium, occupies much of the rostral half of the primitive streak at early primitive-streak stages of gastrulation. The heart originates from the primitive streak in roughly rostrocaudal sequence (i.e., the prospective bulbus cordis arises more rostrally in the streak than does the prospective ventricle, which in turn arises more rostrally than does the prospective sinus venosus), and all layers of the heart at each of its rostrocaudal subdivisions originate in concert from the same level of the primitive streak. Moreover, all rostrocaudal levels of the primitive streak at gastrula and neurula stages contain prospective endothelial cells. Again, these cells are rostrocaudally ordered within the streak, such that head blood vessels (both arteries and veins) arise at more rostral streak levels than do trunk blood vessels. Ingression of cardiogenic cells is complete by midprimitive-streak stages, and the position formerly occupied by prospective cardiogenic cells within the streak becomes occupied by ingressing prospective somitic cells. Additional studies on the state of commitment of prospective cardiogenic and endothelial cells during their ingression through the primitive streak are underway.
Osmotic adaptation of renal medullary cells during transition from chronic diuresis to antidiuresis.

The cells of the renal medulla adapt osmotically to high extracellular tonicities by high concentrations of organic osmolytes. Intracellular accumulation of these substances is, however, relatively slow. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of an abrupt rise in extracellular tonicity on intracellular osmotically active substances after prior reduction of medullary contents of organic osmolytes by chronic diuresis. Intra- and extracellular electrolyte concentrations at the papillary tip and the tissue contents of methylamines (glycerophosphorylcholine, betaine), polyols (myo-inositol, sorbitol), and several amino acids were determined in the different kidney zones by electron microprobe analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography in control animals, in rats infused for 6 days with furosemide via osmotic minipumps, and in rats given the vasopressin analogue [deamino-Cys1,D-Arg8]vasopressin (DDAVP) after the chronic furosemide treatment. Chronic diuresis greatly reduced interstitial tonicity and inner medullary contents of methylamines and polyols and moderately reduced inner medullary amino acid contents but did not significantly affect intracellular electrolyte concentrations. When the diuretic rats were infused with DDAVP for 2 h, interstitial tonicity more than doubled and intracellular K and Cl concentrations rose by approximately 60 and 160%, while inner medullary contents of methylamines, polyols, and amino acids were not changed significantly. These data demonstrate that after effective depletion of medullary organic osmolytes by long-term diuresis, the cells of the renal papilla adapt osmotically to an abrupt increase in extracellular tonicities by elevated cell electrolyte concentrations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A study on life cycle of twisted string actuators: Preliminary results

Twisted string actuators are widely used in different areas of robotics, however, their lifetime remains one of the main concerns for robotics. There are no comprehensive studies that relate the lifetime of a twisted string to its material properties and operation conditions, which can be important to improve the life cycle. This paper provides preliminary results of an extensive experimental study on twisted string actuators, using strings made of different materials and operating in various working conditions. We experimentally investigated the life time of two different strings and provided empiric mathematical model which relates operating conditions of TSAs and string material and properties to their endurance. Based on experimental results, the observations are made that the life cycle of the strings decreases exponentially with the increase in load forces and stroke and increases linearly with the increase in the number of strings.
An Investigation of FRAXA Intermediate Allele Phenotype in A Longitudinal Sample

The FRAXA trinucleotide repeat at Xq27.3 gives rise to fragile X syndrome when fully expanded, and both premature ovarian failure (POF) and fragile X tremor and ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) when in the premutation range. Reports of phenotypic effects extending into the intermediate repeat range are inconsistent but some studies suggest that these smaller expansions predispose to special educational needs (SEN). This study utilises the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort to investigate cognitive and behavioural variables that might be associated with FRAXA intermediate alleles.
Automatic Arc Discharge-Induced Helical Long Period Fiber Gratings and Its Sensing Applications

We experimentally demonstrate an automatic arc discharge technology for inscribing high-quality helically twisted long period fiber gratings (H-LPFGs) with greatly improved inscription efficiency for single mode fibers. The proposed technology has been developed by implementing an embedded program in a commercial fusion splicer, which employs an ultraprecision motorized translation stage while the tensioning mass required by conventional inscribing technology is eliminated. More significantly, the arc-induced H-LPFGs have been reported to have potential usage as sensors in temperature, refractive index, twist stress, and strain.
Different types of antagonists modify the outcome of complete denture renewal.

PURPOSE The effect of renewing removable dentures on masticatory function was evaluated according to the occlusion offered by different types of mandibular arches. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-eight patients with complete maxillary dentures were subdivided into three groups in terms of mandibular dentition type: dentate, partial denture, and complete denture. The participants were observed before and 8 weeks after maxillary denture renewal. The mandibular denture was also renewed in the partial and complete denture groups. The participants masticated carrots, peanuts, and three model foods of different hardnesses. The particle size distribution of the boluses obtained from natural foods was characterized by the median particle size (d50) in relation to the masticatory normative indicator (MNI). Chewing time (CT), number of chewing cycles (CC), and chewing frequency (CF) were video recorded. A self-assessment questionnaire for oral health-related quality of life (Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index [GOHAI]) was used. Statistical analyses were carried out with a mixed model. RESULTS Renewal of the dentures decreased d50 (P < .001). The number of participants with d50 values above the MNI cutoff decreased from 12 to 2 after renewal. Renewal induced an increase in mean CF while chewing model foods (P < .001). With all foods, renewal tended to affect CT, CC, and CF differently among the three groups (statistically significant renewal Å~ group interactions). The GOHAI score increased significantly for all groups. CONCLUSIONS Denture renewal improves masticatory function. The complete denture group benefited least from renewal; the dentate group benefited most. This study confirmed the usefulness of denture renewal for improving functions and oral health- related quality of life.
A Closed-Loop  $\Sigma\Delta$ Interface for a High-Q Micromechanical Capacitive Accelerometer With 200 ng/$ \surd$Hz Input Noise Density

In this paper, a fully-differential high-order switched-capacitor (SC) sigma-delta (ΣΔ) interface in a standard 0.5 μm CMOS technology for a micromechanical capacitive accelerometer is presented. A 1 bit digital output is attained by the interface circuit based on a low-noise front-end and a back-end third-order SC ΣΔ modulator, avoiding the use of a separate high-resolution ΣΔ converter to digitize the analog feedback signal. In addition, a micromechanical capacitive sensor element with a high quality factor (high-Q) is used to achieve high-resolution. Furthermore, closed-loop operation and electrical compensation are employed for damping the high-Q to ensure the stability of the high-order system. The sensor consumes 23 mW of power from a single 7 V supply at a sampling clock of 250 kHz. Meanwhile, a sensitivity of 1.896 V/g is achieved with a noise floor of lower than 200 ng /√Hz in low-frequency. The sensor has a nonlinearity of 0.15% with an input range of ±1.2g. The bandwidth (BW) is 300 Hz and the bias instability is 18 μg.
In Silico Studies in Drug Research Against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease (PD), spinal cerebellar ataxias, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy are described by slow and selective degeneration of neurons and axons in the central nervous system (CNS) and constitute one of the major challenges of modern medicine. Computer-aided or in silico drug design methods have matured into powerful tools for reducing the number of ligands that should be screened in experimental assays. Methods In the present review, the authors provide a basic background about neurodegenerative diseases and in silico techniques in the drug research. Furthermore, they review the various in silico studies reported against various targets in neurodegenerative diseases, including homology modeling, molecular docking, virtual high-throughput screening, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), hologram quantitative structure activity relationship (HQSAR), 3D pharmacophore mapping, proteochemometrics modeling (PCM), fingerprints, fragment-based drug discovery, Monte Carlo simulation, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, quantum-mechanical methods for drug design, support vector machines, and machine learning approaches. Results Detailed analysis of the recently reported case studies revealed that the majority of them use a sequential combination of ligand and structure-based virtual screening techniques, with particular focus on pharmacophore models and the docking approach. Conclusion Neurodegenerative diseases have a multifactorial pathoetiological origin, so scientists have become persuaded that a multi-target therapeutic strategy aimed at the simultaneous targeting of multiple proteins (and therefore etiologies) involved in the development of a disease is recommended in future.
Computations of top-down attention by modulating V1 dynamics

The human visual system processes information defining what is visually conspicuous (saliency) to our perception, guiding eye movements towards certain objects depending on scene context and its feature characteristics [1]. However, attention has been known to be biased by top-down influences (relevance), which define voluntary eye movements driven by goal-directed behavior and memory. We propose a unified model of the visual cortex able to predict, among other effects, top-down visual attention and saccadic eye movements. First, we simulate activations of early mechanisms of the visual system (RGC/LGN), by processing distinct image chromatic opponencies with Gabor-like filters. Second, we use a cortical magnification function to reproduce foveation towards V1 retinotopy. Third, we feed these signals to an excitatory-inhibitory neurodynamic model (Figure 1) of lateral interactions in V1 [3, 4] as a saliency mechanism [2]. Fourth, projections towards the SC (modeled as WTA-like computations) determine the targets of fixations and saccade sequences. Fifth and last, we integrate a top-down inhibition process by simulating retrieval of visual representations as goal-directed selection processes (DLPFC/FEF), later projected towards V1/SC. These topdown representations will modulate the prediction of visual relevance during visual search tasks, where its weights (orientation, scale and opponency) are mapped as cortical signals from early visual areas for each exemplar/category. Our results show (Figure 2) that our model predictions of eye movements improve by including the aforementioned top-down computations. In addition, our model has previously seen to simultaneously reproduce visual discomfort, brightness and chromatic induction effects.