Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of the Protein NUPR1 (p8) Leads to Delayed LHB Expression, Delayed Ovarian Maturation, and Testicular Development of a Sertoli-Cell-Only Syndrome-Like Phenotype in Mice1

Abstract The high mobility group factor NUPR1, also known as p8 and com1, plays a role in temporal expression of the beta subunit of luteinizing hormone, LHB, during gonadotroph development. At Embryonic Day (e) 16.5, LHB is detectable in wild-type (Nupr1+/+) but not Nupr1 knockout (Nupr1–/–) mice. LHB is initiated by e17.5 in Nupr1–/– mice, and expression is fully recovered by Postnatal Day (p) 2. Factors indicative of pituitary maturation, GATA2, CGA, and TSH, are not differentially expressed in Nupr1–/– and Nupr1+/+ embryos at e17.5. Therefore, the delay in LHB expression does not appear to result from delayed pituitary development. In addition, the role of NUPR1 in gonadotropin expression appears specific for LHB, as no difference in FSHB is observed in Nupr1–/– and Nupr1+/+ embryos. The gonads are also impacted by the absence of NUPR1. Ovaries of female Nupr1–/– mice lack corpora lutea (CL) at 8 wk, an age at which CL are present in all Nupr1+/+ littermates. Sexual maturity is recovered by 11 wk in Nupr1–/– mice. Conversely, the testes of Nupr1–/– males appear normal through 8 mo of age. By 10 mo, however, these mice develop a condition in which a significant number of seminiferous tubules lack germ cells, an abnormality reminiscent of human Sertoli-cell-only syndrome. NUPR1 is undetectable in Nupr1+/+ gonadotrophs by p2 and remains absent in adulthood, but quantitative PCR analysis indicates Nupr1+/+ adult ovaries and testes express Nupr1 mRNA. Therefore, the ovarian and testicular phenotypes may be due to the loss of NUPR1 directly at the gonads.
Cutaneous short-interfering RNA therapy

Since the 1990s, RNA interference (RNAi) has become a major subject of interest, not only as a tool for biological research, but also, more importantly, as a therapeutic approach for gene-related diseases. The use of short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for the sequence-specific knockdown of disease-causing genes has led to numerous preclinical and even a few clinical studies. Applications for cutaneous delivery of therapeutic siRNA are now emerging owing to a strong demand for effective treatments of various cutaneous disorders. Although successful studies have been performed using several different delivery techniques, most of these techniques encounter limitations for translation to the clinic with regards to patient compliance. This review describes the principal findings and applications in cutaneous RNAi therapy and focuses on the promises and pitfalls of the delivery systems.
Mixing small volumes for continuous high-throughput flow cytometry: performance of a mixing Y and peristaltic sample delivery.

BACKGROUND Online mixing for continuous high-throughput flow cytometry has not been previously described. A simple, general high-throughput method for mixing and delivery of submicroliter volumes in laminar flow at low Reynolds numbers would be widely useful. MATERIALS AND METHODS We describe a micromixing approach that is compatible with commercial autosamplers, flow cytometry, and other detection schemes that require mixing of components that have been introduced into laminar flow. The scheme is based on a previous approach to high-throughput flow cytometry (HyperCyt, Kuckuck et al.: Cytometry 44:83-90, 2001). We showed that samples from multiwell plates that have been picked up by an autosampler can be separated during delivery by the small air bubbles introduced during the transit of the autosampler probe from well to well. Here, a particle sample flowing continuously is brought together in a Y with reagent samples from wells, which have been separated by bubbles. RESULTS In the effluent stream, the particles and reagents are mixed, most likely as a result of peristaltic action, and reagents from individual wells can be resolved. The sample volumes that can be mixed with this technology are submicroliter in volume, and samples can be mixed at rates up to at least 100/samples per minute. With the current device, carryover between samples can be eliminated if the mixing system is flushed with several volumes of buffer. The anticipated throughput for screening is expected to be at least 20 samples per minute. CONCLUSIONS The high-throughput approach and peristaltic mixing in HyperCytTM serve to integrate autosamplers with submicroliter detection volumes for analysis in flow cytometry or in microfluidic channels.
Speaker and Speech recognition by Audio-Visual lip biometrics

This paper proposes a new robust bi-modal audio visual speech and speaker recognition system by lip-motion and speech biometrics. To increase the robustness of speech and speaker recognition, we have proposed a method using speaker lip motion information extracted from video sequences with low resolution (128 ×128 pixels). In this paper we investigate a biometric system for speech recognition and speaker identification based using line-motion estimation with speech information and Support Vector Machines. The acoustic and visual features are fused at the feature level showing favourable results with digit recognition being 83% to 100% and speaker recognition 100% on the XM2VTS database.
Resting heart rate and blood pressure, independent of each other, proportionally raise the risk for type-2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Fast heart rate and high blood pressure (BP) at rest may raise risk for the development of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We therefore investigated dose-response and interactive effects of resting heart rate and BP on the incidence of DM in a Japanese population. METHODS A follow-up study was conducted for 16 828 men and 8368 women aged 30-59 years and apparently healthy at baseline. Incident DM was identified by 'fasting serum glucose > or =7.00 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)' or/and 'under medical treatment for DM'. Using Cox proportional hazard models, hazard ratio (HR) for incident DM were estimated according to the quartiles of heart rate, systolic or diastolic BP (SBP, DBP), and its linear trends were checked by computing the three indices as continuous variables. Subsequently, interactive effects of slow/fast heart rate (dichotomized by the median) and low/high SBP or DBP (dichotomized by the median) on HR were examined. Baseline age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise and education were computed as conventional confounders. RESULTS During the follow-up of 125 106 person-years for men and 59 616 person-years for women, 869 men and 224 women developed DM. The multivariate-adjusted HR for incident DM increased across quartiles of heart rate, SBP and DBP in both sexes (linear trend P<0.001 for all). Neither sex showed any significant interactive effects of heart rate and SBP or DBP on HR. CONCLUSIONS Resting heart rate and BP proportionally raise the risk for DM in middle-aged healthy men and women. Moreover, the adverse effects of fast heart rate and high BP are independent of each other as well as of the influences of conventional confounders.
Beta-globin haplotype analysis suggests that a major source of Malagasy ancestry is derived from Bantu-speaking Negroids.

The origins of the inhabitants of Madagascar have not been fully resolved. Anthropological studies and preliminary genetic data point to two main sources of ancestry of the Malagasy, namely, Indonesian and African, with additional contributions from India and Arabia. The sickle-cell (beta s) mutation is found in populations of African and Indian origin. The frequency of the beta s-globin gene, derived from 1,425 Malagasy individuals, varies from 0 in some highland populations to . 25 in some coastal populations. The beta s mutation is thought to have arisen at least five times, on the basis of the presence of five distinct beta s-associated haplotypes, each found in a separate geographic area. Twenty-five of the 35 Malagasy beta s haplotypes were of the typical "Bantu" type, 1 "Senegal" haplotype was found, and 2 rare or atypical haplotypes were observed; the remaining 7 haplotypes were consistent with the Bantu haplotype. The Bantu beta s mutation is thought to have been introduced into Madagascar by Bantu-speaking immigrants (colonists or slaves) from central or east Africa. The Senegal beta s mutation may have been introduced to the island via Portuguese naval explorers. This study provides the first definitive biological evidence that a major component of Malagasy ancestry is derived from African populations, in particular, Bantu-speaking Negroids. beta A haplotypes are also consistent with the claim for a significant African contribution to Malagasy ancestry but are also suggestive of Asian/Oceanic and Caucasoid admixture within the Malagasy population.
Direct interaction of the calcium sensor protein synaptotagmin I with a cytoplasmic domain of the α1A subunit of the P/Q‐type calcium channel

Synaptotagmins are synaptic vesicle proteins containing two calcium‐binding C2 domains which are involved in coupling calcium influx through voltage‐gated channels to vesicle fusion and exocytosis of neurotransmitters. The interaction of synaptotagmins with native P/Q‐type calcium channels was studied in solubilized synaptosomes from rat cerebellum. Antibodies against synaptotagmins I and II, but not IV co‐immunoprecipitated [125I]ω‐conotoxin MVIIC‐labelled calcium channels. Direct interactions were studied between in vitro‐translated [35S]synaptotagmin I and fusion proteins containing cytoplasmic loops of the α1A subunit (BI isoform). Gel overlay revealed the association of synaptotagmin I with a single region (residues 780–969) located in the intracellular loop connecting homologous domains II and III. Saturable calcium‐independent binding occurred with equilibrium dissociation constants of 70 nM and 340 nM at 4°C and pH 7.4, and association was blocked by addition of excess recombinant synaptotagmin I. Direct synaptotagmin binding to the pore‐forming subunit of the P/Q‐type channel may optimally locate the calcium‐binding sites that initiate exocytosis within a zone of voltage‐gated calcium entry.
Endotoxin causes phosphorylation of MARCKS in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced endothelial cell (EC) monolayer permeability. Myristoylated alanine‐rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS), as a specific PKC substrate, appears to mediate PKC signaling by PKC‐dependent phosphorylation of MARCKS and subsequent modification of the association of MARCKS with filamentous actin and calmodulin (CaM). Therefore, in the present study, we investigated LPS‐induced MARCKS phosphorylation in bovine pulmonary artery EC (BPAEC). LPS potentiated MARCKS phosphorylation in BPAEC in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. The PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, significantly decreased LPS‐induced phosphorylation of MARCKS. In addition, downregulation of PKC with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) did not affect the LPS‐induced MARCKS phosphorylation, suggesting that LPS and PMA activate different isoforms of PKC. Pretreatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, or genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented LPS‐induced MARCKS phosphorylation. Phosphorylation at appropriate sites will induce translocation of MARCKS from the cell membrane to the cytosol. However, LPS, in contrast to PMA, did not generate MARCKS translocation in BPAEC, suggesting that MARCKS translocation may not play a role in LPS‐induced actin rearrangement and EC permeability. LPS also enhanced both thrombin‐ and PMA‐induced phosphorylation of MARCKS, suggesting that LPS was able to prime these signaling pathways in BPAEC. Because the CaM‐dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLC) results in EC contraction, we studied the effect of LPS on MLC phosphorylation in BPAEC. LPS induced diphosphorylation of MLC in a time‐dependent manner, which occurred at lower doses of LPS, than those required to induce MARCKS phosphorylation. In addition, there was no synergism between LPS and thrombin in the induction of MLC phosphorylation. These data indicate that MLC phosphorylation is independent of MARCKS phosphorylation. In conclusion, LPS stimulated MARCKS phosphorylation in BPAEC. This phosphorylation appears to involve activation of PKC, p38 MAP kinase, and tyrosine kinases. Further studies are needed to explore the role of MARCKS phosphorylation in LPS‐induced actin rearrangement and EC permeability. J. Cell. Biochem. 79:496–505, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of energy systems in determining the energy cost of gain of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing different levels of dietary fat

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of different energy systems in predicting the energy cost of gain of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing different levels of dietary fat. The diets in both experiments were based on wheat, corn and soybean meal and supplemented with 0, 1.75, 3.50 and 5.25% tallow. In Experiment 1, 24 crossbred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) were randomly allocated to one of the four dietary treatments to determine the digestible (DE) and metabolizable (ME) energy content of the diets and net energy (NE) was calculated from DE and ME values. In Experiment 2, 96 crossbred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the energy systems in predicting the energy cost of gain for growing-finishing pigs fed ad libitum. There were six pens per treatment and four pigs per pen. The results obtained in trial 1 were used for calculating the energy cost of gain in trial 2. During the growing period, there was a linear decrease (p < 0.05) in the DE and ME cost of gain, while the NE cost of gain was not influenced by level of fat. During the finishing period, neither DE, ME or NE cost of gain were influenced by the dietary fat level. For the total experiment, the DE and ME cost of gain decreased (linear effect; p = 0.001), but there was no significant decrease in the NE cost of gain. It is concluded that the NE system can predict the performance of growing-finishing pigs more precisely for diets differing in fat content than can the DE and ME systems.
Bällchen participates in proliferation control and prevents the differentiation of Drosophila melanogaster neuronal stem cells

ABSTRACT Stem cells continuously generate differentiating daughter cells and are essential for tissue homeostasis and development. Their capacity to self-renew as undifferentiated and actively dividing cells is controlled by either external signals from a cellular environment, the stem cell niche, or asymmetric distribution of cell fate determinants during cell division. Here we report that the protein kinase Bällchen (BALL) is required to prevent differentiation as well as to maintain normal proliferation of neuronal stem cells of Drosophila melanogaster, called neuroblasts. Our results show that the brains of ball mutant larvae are severely reduced in size, which is caused by a reduced proliferation rate of the neuroblasts. Moreover, ball mutant neuroblasts gradually lose the expression of the neuroblast determinants Miranda and aPKC, suggesting their premature differentiation. Our results indicate that BALL represents a novel cell intrinsic factor with a dual function regulating the proliferative capacity and the differentiation status of neuronal stem cells during development.
Oral health status and treatment satisfaction with mandibular implant overdentures and conventional dentures: a randomized clinical trial in a senior population.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare elderly patients' satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life with mandibular two-implant overdentures and conventional dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty edentulous subjects aged 65 to 75 years were randomly assigned to two groups treated with maxillary conventional dentures and either a mandibular conventional denture (n = 30) or an overdenture supported by two implants with ball retainers (n = 30). Subjects rated their general satisfaction, as well as other features of their dentures (comfort, stability, ability to chew, speech, esthetics, and cleaning ability), prior to treatment and 2 months postdelivery. Changes in ratings on the original Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) and its short form (OHIP-EDENT) were also used as indicators of oral health-related quality of life. RESULTS The primary outcome of this study, ratings of general satisfaction 2 months postdelivery, was significantly better in the group treated with mandibular two-implant overdentures (P = .001). In addition, the implant group gave significantly higher ratings on comfort, stability, and ability to chew. Furthermore, using OHIP-EDENT, subjects who received mandibular two-implant overdentures had significantly fewer oral health-related quality of life problems than did the conventional group. CONCLUSION These short-term results suggest that mandibular two-implant overdentures combined with maxillary conventional dentures provide better function and oral health-related quality of life than conventional dentures.
Expression of IgD by murine lymphocytes. Loss of surface IgD indicates maturation of memory B cells

B lymphocytes capable of generating primary IgM and IgG plaque-forming cells (PFC) responses to burro erythrocytes have surface IgD, as do primary IgM PFC. IgG memroy cells arising after one injection of antigen are divided into two groups, one of which expresses surface IgD while the other has no detectable membrane IgD. PFC generated from the IgG memory cells lacking surface IgD show a higher average avidity than those arising from IgD-positive IgG memory cells, indicating that mature IgG memory cells do not have surface IgD. After more than one injection of antigen, few, if any, IgG memory cells have surface IgD. IgG PFC arising in primary or secondary immune response lack membrane- bound IgD. These data provide the outlines for a B-cell maturation pathway in which IgD marks unprimed and early memory B cells and is lost in mature memory cells. Studies presented here were conducted by isolating IgD+ and IgD- cells with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter and functional testing of the isolated populations in adoptive transfer experiments.
Interferon response element of the human gene 6‐16.

1046 base‐pairs (bp) of genomic DNA spanning the first exon of the human alpha/beta‐interferon (IFN)‐inducible gene 6‐16 have been analysed for their role in induction. The whole gene or 5′‐flanking deletion derivatives of it were assayed for inducibility in populations of stably transfected mouse cells. 5′‐Flanking DNA fragments were assayed for their ability to confer inducibility on a reporter gene in stably and transiently transfected mouse and human cells. The data suggest that a 39 bp sequence is sufficient to confer transcriptional inducibility and can account in large part for the response of 6‐16. Two copies of this sequence, one of which contains a dinucleotide insert, are located in tandem 88 bp upstream of the 6‐16 transcriptional initiation site. For at least one of the repeat units the 5′ limit of a subregion required for induction lies in the sequence GGGAAAAT. The motif GGAAA occurs in several well characterized enhancers. Furthermore, one residue 3′ of the GGAAA there is a second motif, TGAAACT, which is conserved in the regulatory regions of other IFN‐induced genes. In gel retardation assays the oligonucleotide GGGAAAATGAAACT competes with the repeat element for binding to IFN‐modulated protein(s) but a mutated oligonucleotide, GGGAAAATGACACT does not. These results identify an alpha/beta IFN response element partially homologous to those described previously for the genes of the MHC complexes.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) phase‐shifts the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus clock in vitro

In mammals, the principal circadian pacemaker is housed in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The SCN exhibit high levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity and two of the three VIP receptors, VPAC2 and PAC1, are found in the rat SCN. However, the role of VIP in the SCN remains unclear. In this study, we examined the phase‐resetting actions of VIP and selective VIP receptor agonists on the electrical activity rhythm of rat SCN neurons in vitro. Application of VIP during the subjective day did not shift the peak in the firing rate rhythm. However, VIP treatment during the early or late subjective night evoked a small phase delay or a large phase advance, respectively. The phase‐advancing effect of VIP was reproduced by the novel VPAC2 receptor agonist RO 25‐1553, but not by pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating peptide (a potent PAC1 receptor agonist), or by [K15,R16,L27]VIP(1‐7)/GRF(8‐27), a novel, selective VPAC1 receptor agonist. These data show that VIP phase‐dependently phase‐resets the rodent SCN pacemaker in vitro, presumably via the VPAC2 receptor. As the pattern of phase‐shifting evoked by VIP and RO 25‐1553 resembles the phase‐resetting actions of light on rodent behavioural rhythms, these data support a role for VIP and the VPAC2 receptor in photic entrainment of the rodent circadian pacemaker.
Standardization of in vitro studies

The research string starts with content analysis, review, survey, in vitro, and in vivo studies. The in vitro studies which play a greater role in transition of data are critical and important. When effectively done, it can contribute a great amount of contributory data to research advancement and clinical documentations. However, in current scenario, a majority of the in vitro studies are taken for a chance and have lesser impact for research advancement. This necessitates the review on standardization of in vitro study guidelines. [1]
Global Trends in Privacy Protection: An International Survey of Privacy, Data Protection, and Surveillance Laws and Developments

Privacy is a fundamental human right recognized in all major international treaties and agreements on human rights. Nearly every country in the world recognizes privacy as a fundamental human right in their constitution, either explicitly or implicitly. Most recently drafted constitutions include specific rights to access and control one's personal information. There is a growing trend towards the enactment of comprehensive privacy and data protection acts around the world. Currently over 40 countries and jurisdictions have or are in the process of enacting such laws. Countries are adopting these laws in many cases to address past governmental abuses (such as in former East Bloc countries), to promote electronic commerce, or to ensure compatibility with international standards developed by the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Many countries have also adopted Freedom of Information laws.This paper provides details of the state of privacy in over fifty countries around the world. It outlines the constitutional and legal conditions of privacy protection, and summarizes important issues and events relating to privacy and surveillance.
Envelope Correlation Coefficient for Logarithmic Diversity Receivers Revisited

The analysis of the envelope correlation coefficient for logarithmic diversity receivers, given by de Neumann (de Neumann, 1989) for one Rayleigh fading branch in isotropic scattering environments (two independent real Gaussian branches), is extended in this letter to the general case where a maximum ratio combiner (MRC) operates on M ges 1 independent Rayleigh fading branches, with the same temporal correlation coefficient, in nonisotropic scattering environments. The derived exact closed-form expressions include the results by B. de Neumann in 1989 as special cases. In addition, when M is not so small, theoretical analysis and Monte Carlo simulations show that the envelope correlation coefficient can be accurately approximated by the squared amplitude of the channel correlation coefficient.