Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tumorigenic activity of 3-methylcholanthrene metabolites on mouse skin and in newborn mice.

3-Methylcholanthrene and eight of its metabolites were tested for tumorigenic activity in two tumor models. In the tumorigenicity study on mouse skin, a single topical application of 3 to 30 nmol of compound was followed 7 days later by twice weekly applications of the tumor promotor 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate for 30 weeks. Comparisons of the percentage of mice with tumors and the average number of tumors per mouse indicated that 3-methylcholanthrene, 2-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene, 3-methylcholanthrene-2-one, and a 1,9,10-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene diastereomer were approximately equipotent as tumor initiators. 1-Hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene had approximately one-fourth the tumor-initiating activity of the most active compounds, and 3-methylcholanthrene-1-one and trans -11,12-dihydroxy-11,12-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene had no significant tumorigenic activity at the doses tested. In the tumorigenicity study in newborn mice, increasing amounts of the compounds were injected i.p. on the 1st, 8th, and 15th days of life to give a total dose of 21 or 49 nmol. The experiment was terminated when the animals were 35 to 39 weeks old. With respect to pulmonary tumors, 1,9,10-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene was the most tumorigenic compound tested at both doses. 3-Methylcholanthrene and 3-methylcholanthrene-2-one were the next most active compounds, and they had approximately one-half to one-third of the activity of 1,9,10-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene when the data were expressed as pulmonary tumors per mouse. 2-Hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene was slightly less active than were 3-methylcholanthrene and 3-methylcholanthrene-2-one. 1-Hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene had marginal tumorigenic activity. 3-Methylcholanthrene 11,12-oxide, trans -11,12-dihydroxy-11,12-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene, and 3-methylcholanthrene-1-one were inactive at the doses tested. 1,9,10-Trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene at the 21- and 49-nmol doses also produced hepatic tumors in 50 and 81% of the male mice, respectively. 3-Methylcholanthrene and 2-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene had one-fourth to one-tenth the activity of 1,9,10-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene in the liver. The other 3-methylcholanthrene metabolites were essentially inactive in producing hepatic tumors. The high tumorigenic activity of 1,9,10-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene on mouse skin and in newborn mice provides evidence for bay-region activation of 3-methylcholanthrene to an ultimate carcinogen. The data also indicate that other metabolites of 3-methylcholanthrene may play a role in the carcinogenicity of this polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.
The role of hybrid models in understanding failure mechanisms of infrastructure electronics due to high-power microwave illumination

Over the last few years, members of the electromagnetics community have used two types of models to investigate the differences in upset thresholds for multiple microsecond pulses compared to single or few shot short-pulse illuminations of complex electronic equipment. These models are: communication theory models and hybrid models. After reviewing and contrasting these models, we use a hybrid model to better understand failure modes in a SCADA trainer as a simple example. The model considers the type of failures seen in current injection testing of this SCADA. The purpose of the model is to introduce a methodology of predicting failure modes for complex infrastructure components.
A holistic network approach to study the structure of technological network by the block modeling of social network analysis

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the technological structure of business methods in insurance. Concepts and techniques used in social network analysis are applied to a network of patents based on citation. By means of procedures drawing on the notion of structural equivalence, a set of blocks and positions of insurance business methods are delineated. This paper has focused its discussion on patent data of classification UPC705/4 to explore possible technological structure in insurance. The result of this research found that there are 4 clusters in the structure of technological network.
A semi-fragile pinned sine transform watermarking system for content authentication of satellite images

A novel semi-fragile watermarking scheme for the content authentication of satellite images using the pinned sine transform (PST) is presented in this paper. In the PST domain, the image field is first decomposed into two mutually orthogonal sub-fields, namely, the boundary field and the pinned field. The watermark is embedded into the pinned field of PST, which contains the texture information of the original image. This important property of the pinned field provides the scheme with special sensitivity to any texture alteration to the watermarked image. It is desirable to the authentication of satellite images, to which the texture characters are crucial for semantic understanding. The watermarking system can localize the portions of a watermarked image that have been tampered maliciously with high accuracy as well as approximately recover it, while maintaining a high degree of image integrity. The interblock relationship introduced in the process of PST renders the watermarking scheme resistant to content cutting-and-pasting attacks. The watermark can still survive slight non-malicious manipulations, which is desirable in many practical applications in satellite remote sensing. Simulation results demonstrated that the probability of tamper detection of this authentication scheme is higher than 98%.
S-Nitroso Human Serum Albumin Treatment Reduces Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Skeletal Muscle via Nitric Oxide Release

Background—Peroxynitrite generated from nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2−) contributes to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Feedback inhibition of endothelial NO synthase by NO may inhibit O2− production generated also by endothelial NO synthase at diminished local l-arginine concentrations accompanying I/R. Methods and Results—During hindlimb I/R (2.5 hours/2 hours), in vivo NO was monitored continuously (porphyrinic sensor), and high-energy phosphates, reduced and oxidized glutathione (chromatography), and I/R injury were measured intermittently. Rabbits receiving human serum albumin (HSA) (controls) were compared with those receiving S-nitroso human serum albumin (S-NO-HSA) beginning 30 minutes before reperfusion for 1 hour or 30 minutes before ischemia for 3.5 hours (0.1 &mgr;mol · kg−1 · h− 1). The onset of ischemia led to a rapid increase of NO from its basal level (50±12 nmol/L) to 120±20 and 220±15 nmol/L in the control and S-NO-HSA–treated groups, respectively. In control animals, NO dropped below basal levels at the end of ischemia and to undetectable levels (<1 nmol/L) during reperfusion. In S-NO-HSA–treated animals, maximal NO levels never decreased below basal concentration and on reperfusion were 100±15 nmol/L (S-NO-HSA preischemia group, 175±15 nmol/L). NO supplementation by S-NO-HSA led to partial and in the preischemia group to total preservation of high-energy phosphates and glutathione status in reperfused muscle (eg, preischemia groups: ATP, 30.23±5.02 &mgr;mol/g versus control, 15.75±4.33 &mgr;mol/g, P <0.0005; % oxidized glutathione, 4.49± 1.87% versus control, 22.84±6.39%, P <0.0001). S-NO-HSA treatment in all groups led to protection from vasoconstriction and reduced edema formation after reperfusion (eg, preischemia groups: interfiber area, 12.94±1.36% versus control, 27.83±1.95%, P < 0.00001). Conclusions—Long-lasting release of NO by S-NO-HSA provides significant protection of skeletal muscle from I/R injury.
Atrial Sources of Reactive Oxygen Species Vary With the Duration and Substrate of Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for the Antiarrhythmic Effect of Statins

Background— An altered nitric oxide–redox balance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Statins inhibit NOX2-NADPH oxidases and prevent postoperative AF but are less effective in AF secondary prevention; the mechanisms underlying these findings are poorly understood. Methods and Results— By using goat models of pacing-induced AF or of atrial structural remodeling secondary to atrioventricular block and right atrial samples from 130 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, we found that the mechanisms responsible for the NO-redox imbalance differ between atria and with the duration and substrate of AF. Rac1 and NADPH oxidase activity and the protein level of NOX2 and p22phox were significantly increased in the left atrium of goats after 2 weeks of AF and in patients who developed postoperative AF in the absence of differences in leukocytes infiltration. Conversely, in the presence of longstanding AF or atrioventricular block, uncoupled nitric oxide synthase activity (secondary to reduced BH4 content and/or increased arginase activity) and mitochondrial oxidases accounted for the biatrial increase in reactive oxygen species. Atorvastatin caused a mevalonate-reversible inhibition of Rac1 and NOX2-NADPH oxidase activity in right atrial samples from patients who developed postoperative AF, but it did not affect reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide synthase uncoupling, or BH4 in patients with permanent AF. Conclusions— Upregulation of atrial NADPH oxidases is an early but transient event in the natural history of AF. Changes in the sources of reactive oxygen species with atrial remodeling may explain why statins are effective in the primary prevention of AF but not in its management.
Absolute ages of globular clusters and the age of the universe

The main sequence turnoff luminosity is the best stellar `clock' which can be used to determine the absolute ages of globular clusters. This is due to the fact that it is generally assumed that the luminosity and lifetimes of main sequence globular cluster stars are independent of the properties of stellar convection and atmospheres, two areas of stellar evolution which are poorly understood. Several possible sources of error in this stellar clock are discussed, and isochrones are constructed using a variety of different physical assumptions. The mean age of the oldest globular clusters are determined from these isochrones and it is found that the uncertainties in the input physics can lead to changes in the derived age of $\pm 15\%$. Surprisingly the largest source of error is the mixing length theory of convection. It is well known that uncertainties in the distance scale and chemical composition of globular cluster stars lead to changes of order $\sim 22\%$ in the determination of absolute ages. Combining the various sources of error, the absolute age of the oldest globular clusters are found to lie in the range 11 --- 21 Gyr. This is meant to be a total theoretical range. For the standard inflationary model ($\Omega = 1, \Lambda = 0$), a minimum age of the universe of 11 Gyr requires $H_o \la 60~\kmsmpc$.
Distribution and Composition of Thiotrophic Mats in the Hypoxic Zone of the Black Sea (150–170 m Water Depth, Crimea Margin)

At the Black Sea chemocline, oxygen- and sulfide-rich waters meet and form a niche for thiotrophic pelagic bacteria. Here we investigated an area of the Northwestern Black Sea off Crimea close to the shelf break, where the chemocline reaches the seafloor at around 150–170 m water depth, to assess whether thiotrophic bacteria are favored in this zone. Seafloor video transects were carried out with the submersible JAGO covering 20 km2 on the region between 110 and 200 m depth. Around the chemocline we observed irregular seafloor depressions, covered with whitish mats of large filamentous bacteria. These comprised 25–55% of the seafloor, forming a belt of 3 km width around the chemocline. Cores from the mats obtained with JAGO showed higher accumulations of organic matter under the mats compared to mat-free sediments. The mat-forming bacteria were related to Beggiatoa-like large filamentous sulfur bacteria based on 16S rRNA sequences from the mat, and visual characteristics. The microbial community under the mats was significantly different from the surrounding sediments and enriched with taxa affiliated with polymer degrading, fermenting and sulfate reducing microorganisms. Under the mats, higher organic matter accumulation, as well as higher remineralization and radiotracer-based sulfate reduction rates were measured compared to outside the mat. Mat-covered and mat-free sediments showed similar degradability of the bulk organic matter pool, suggesting that the higher sulfide fluxes and subsequent development of the thiotrophic mats in the patches are consequences of the accumulation of organic matter rather than its qualitative composition. Our observations suggest that the key factors for the distribution of thiotrophic mat-forming communities near to the Crimean shelf break are hypoxic conditions that (i) repress grazers, (ii) enhance the accumulation and degradation of labile organic matter by sulfate-reducers, and (iii) favor thiotrophic filamentous bacteria which are adapted to exploit steep gradients in oxygen and sulfide availability; in addition to a specific seafloor topography which may relate to internal waves at the shelf break.
Estimation of Time -Varying Linear Regression with Unknown Time -Volatility via Continuous Generalization of the Akaike Information Criterion

The problem of estimating time-varying regression is inevitably concerned with the necessity to choose the appropriate level of model volatility ranging from the full stationarity of instant regression models to their absolute independence of each other. In the stationary case the number of regression coefficients to be estimated equals that of regressors, whereas the absence of any smoothness assumptions augments the dimension of the unknown vector by the factor of the time-series length. The Akaike Information Criterion is a commonly adopted means of adjusting a model to the given data set within a succession of nested parametric model classes, but its crucial restriction is that the classes are rigidly defined by the growing integer-valued dimension of the unknown vector. To make the Kullback information maximization principle underlying the classical AIC applicable to the problem of time-varying regression estimation, we extend it onto a wider class of data models in which the dimension of the parameter is fixed, but the freedom of its values is softly constrained by a family of continuously nested a priori probability distributions. Keywords—Time varying regression, time-volatility of regression coefficients, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Kullback information maximization principle.
Effect of capsaicin on thermoregulation: an update with new aspects

Capsaicin, a selective activator of the chemo- and heat-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) V1 cation channel, has characteristic feature of causing long-term functional and structural impairment of neural elements supplied by TRPV1/capsaicin receptor. In mammals, systemic application of capsaicin induces complex heat-loss response characteristic for each species and avoidance of warm environment. Capsaicin activates cutaneous warm receptors and polymodal nociceptors but has no effect on cold receptors or mechanoreceptors. In this review, thermoregulatory features of capsaicin-pretreated rodents and TRPV1-mediated neural elements with innocuous heat sensitivity are summarized. Recent data support a novel hypothesis for the role of visceral warmth sensors in monitoring core body temperature. Furthermore, strong evidence suggests that central presynaptic nerve terminals of TRPV1-expressing cutaneous, thoracic and abdominal visceral receptors are activated by innocuous warmth stimuli and capsaicin. These responses are absent in TRPV1 knockout mice. Thermoregulatory disturbance induced by systemic capsaicin pretreatment lasts for months and is characterized by a normal body temperature at cool environment up to a total dose of 150 mg/kg s.c. Upward differential shift of set points for activation vasodilation, other heat-loss effectors and thermopreference develops. Avoidance of warm ambient temperature (35°C, 40°C) is severely impaired but thermopreference at cool ambient temperatures (Tas) are not altered. TRPV1 knockout or knockdown and genetically altered TRPV1, TRPV2 and TRPM8 knockout mice have normal core temperature in thermoneutral or cool environments, but the combined mutant mice have impaired regulation in warm or cold (4°C) environments. Several lines of evidence support that in the preoptic area warmth sensitive neurons are activated and desensitized by capsaicin, but morphological evidence for it is controversial. It is suggested that these neurons have also integrator function. Fever is enhanced in capsaicin-desensitized rats and the inhibition observed after pretreatment with low i.p. doses does not support in the light of their warmth sensitivity the concept that abdominal TRPV1-expressing nerve terminals serve as nonthermal chemosensors for reference signals in thermoregulation.
Managing Changes in Product Configurations

In modern engineering environment all information about product is stored in the PDM (Product Data Management) system. These systems allow enumerated configurations of product by using mechanisms of BOM or versioning. However problems arise when product has a large number of configurations that are updated frequently. This is common situation in market of consumer goods. In the present paper this issue is addressed by extending an engineering configuration concept. An initial idea of engineering configurator is to have a product defined by generic BOM with all possible components. The BOM also includes a set of constrains, that define valid combinations of components. However it is difficult to maintain such generic BOM. This paper proposes an idea of BOM decomposition into simple and manageable units belonging to single product space. Decomposition is also performed in the domain of constrains. Configuration problem is split into independent sub-problems, which could be delegated to different engineers to work on, or to do maintenance. The resultant structure is easy to comprehend for engineer, because it follows a natural way of thinking during product design. Therefore, changes in configurations could be done much faster, less time is spend for verifications.
A Novel Phase Variation Mechanism in the Meningococcus Driven by a Ligand-Responsive Repressor and Differential Spacing of Distal Promoter Elements

Phase variable expression, mediated by high frequency reversible changes in the length of simple sequence repeats, facilitates adaptation of bacterial populations to changing environments and is frequently important in bacterial virulence. Here we elucidate a novel phase variable mechanism for NadA, an adhesin and invasin of Neisseria meningitidis. The NadR repressor protein binds to operators flanking the phase variable tract and contributes to the differential expression levels of phase variant promoters with different numbers of repeats likely due to different spacing between operators. We show that IHF binds between these operators, and may permit looping of the promoter, allowing interaction of NadR at operators located distally or overlapping the promoter. The 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, a metabolite of aromatic amino acid catabolism that is secreted in saliva, induces NadA expression by inhibiting the DNA binding activity of the repressor. When induced, only minor differences are evident between NadR-independent transcription levels of promoter phase variants and are likely due to differential RNA polymerase contacts leading to altered promoter activity. Our results suggest that NadA expression is under both stochastic and tight environmental-sensing regulatory control, both mediated by the NadR repressor, and may be induced during colonization of the oropharynx where it plays a major role in the successful adhesion and invasion of the mucosa. Hence, simple sequence repeats in promoter regions may be a strategy used by host-adapted bacterial pathogens to randomly switch between expression states that may nonetheless still be induced by appropriate niche-specific signals.
Turbo code design for short blocks

This work considers the design of short parallel turbo codes (PTCs) with block lengths in the order of (a few) hundred code bits. In particular we aim at designing codes with large minimum distance. To this end a structured approach is presented to find suitable component code configurations, as well as interleavers. As a result the proposed turbo codes possess low error floors and outperform competing binary low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes by approximately 0:9 dB and state-of-the-art binary turbo codes by 0:4 dB at a code word error rate (CER) of about ≈10-7. The loss w.r. t. the random coding bound (RCB) is only about 0:8 dB.
Strength of nanoscale polycrystalline copper under shear

Abstract The strengths and shear moduli of several polycrystalline copper systems have been calculated with the molecular dynamics method and effective-medium potential. The grain size varied between 2 and 10nm, and systems were sheared beyond the yield point at room temperature. An inverse Hall–Petch behaviour was seen: the strength decreased with decreasing grain size. Similar behaviour was seen for the shear modulus. These were caused by the grain boundaries, which allow grain-boundary sliding and have low elastic constants. Results were compared with the tensile strength, and the Von Mises failure criterion did hold quite well even on these very small scales. Details of the potential model are discussed in the appendix.
3D Bioprinting and In Vitro Cardiovascular Tissue Modeling

Numerous microfabrication approaches have been developed to recapitulate morphologically and functionally organized tissue microarchitectures in vitro; however, the technical and operational limitations remain to be overcome. 3D printing technology facilitates the building of a construct containing biomaterials and cells in desired organizations and shapes that have physiologically relevant geometry, complexity, and micro-environmental cues. The selection of biomaterials for 3D printing is considered one of the most critical factors to achieve tissue function. It has been reported that some printable biomaterials, having extracellular matrix-like intrinsic microenvironment factors, were capable of regulating stem cell fate and phenotype. In particular, this technology can control the spatial positions of cells, and provide topological, chemical, and complex cues, allowing neovascularization and maturation in the engineered cardiovascular tissues. This review will delineate the state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting techniques in the field of cardiovascular tissue engineering and their applications in translational medicine. In addition, this review will describe 3D printing-based pre-vascularization technologies correlated with implementing blood perfusion throughout the engineered tissue equivalent. The described engineering method may offer a unique approach that results in the physiological mimicry of human cardiovascular tissues to aid in drug development and therapeutic approaches.