Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Desmoglein‐2 during pregnancy and its role in the evolution of viviparity in a marsupial (Sminthopsis crassicaudata; Dasyuridae)

Attachment of the blastocyst and formation of the placenta during pregnancy is dependent on structural and cellular changes occurring in the uterine epithelium and in particular to the plasma membrane of these uterine cells. Desmosome expression decreases during pregnancy in eutherians and some squamates, presumably allowing for remodeling of the uterine epithelium and invasion of the trophoblast during implantation. Marsupials are a distinct mammalian amniote lineage of viviparity, with a short implantation or attachment period and varying levels of invasive placentation. To test the generality of changes to the uterine epithelium during pregnancy across mammals, we characterized the distribution of desmosomes in the uterine epithelial cells of a marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, using electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The absolute number of desmosomes along the lateral plasma membrane decreases during pregnancy and desmosomes are redistributed towards the apical region of the lateral plasma membrane as pregnancy proceeds, similar to what occurs during pregnancy in eutherian mammals. Despite the lower level of maternal investment in pregnancy and the noninvasive structure of fetal membranes in marsupials there are similarities in number and redistribution of desmosomes along the plasma membrane and changes to the morphology of the uterine epithelial cells suggesting that similar plasma membrane changes occur across all lineages of amniote vertebrates. J. Morphol. 276:261–272, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alzheimer's Disease and the Immune System

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been known for over 100 years, but has only just become a pressing matter at the end of the 21st century. AD is a disease related to the aging of the individual, and has its burden over the population has continued to increase as medicine and technology are continuing to lengthen the lives of individuals. Changes in the body associated with aging, such as a weaker immune system, are causing the buildup of the protein associated with AD, amyloid beta (Aβ). Although the monomer forms of this peptide are a normal occurrence within the body, the oligomer or higher multi- unit forms of the peptide present problems to the neurons and local environment in the CNS. The molecules become toxic to the area, and they are flagged by the body to be cleared. Antibody production, opsonization, and phagocytosis by astrocytes and microglia cells in the brain have been shown to help clear this burden. However, this clearing process also can trigger pro-inflammatory pathways and secrete inflammatory cytokines, and this inflammatory response goes on to further promote the pathological changes associated with AD. One of the major progressors of AD is the dysfunction of the immune system caused by abnormal peptide folding in the CNS. Although the immune system of aged patients tend to be fragile with respect to function, acting through immune modulation and immunotherapy are currently seen to be some of the most beneficial techniques for age related diseases. In this review, we will discuss the relation of AD to age and the immune system, and then introduce the current options and treatments regarding immune modulation and immunotherapy.
On the present and future of European research on knowledge and information management

Although the research field of Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) has existed for almost a decade now, it is surprising that only few studies to date have been concerned with analysing its current status and its future prospects. This paper reports on the results of an empirical analysis undertaken on more than two hundred research projects in Knowledge and Information Management, currently funded by the Commission of the European Communities. A trend towards a gradual maturation of the presently prevailing research 'paradigm is identified, indicating a need for a paradigm shift' that will provide a new direction and vision for future research in the area.
Production of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody during the normal immune response to TNP-ficoll. I. Occurrence in AKR/J and BALB/c mice of hapten-augmentable, anti-TNP plaque-forming cells and their accelerated appearance in recipients of immune spleen cells

Attempts were made to elucidate the cause of the downward regulation of the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in AKR/J and BALB/c mice between days 4 and 7 after a single intravenous injection of 2,4,6,trinitrophenyl- lys-Ficoll(TNP-F). AKR/J spleen cells, taken 7 d after injection of TNP-F, were transferred, together with TNP-F, into normal AKR/J mice. The day-3 or – 4 PFC response of the recipients was much lower than that of recipients of normal cells. However, the suppression was only apparent because the presence of 10(-8)-10(-7) M 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-ε-amino-n-caproic acid (TNP- EACA) (or 10(-7)-10(-6) M 2,4,-dinitrophenyl-ε-amino-n-caproic acid) in the PFC assay caused a dramatic increase in observed PFC, averaging 298 percent on day 3 and 122 percent on day 4. Recipients of normal cells showed no such hapten-augmentable PFC. T-depleted immune spleen cells did not cause any apparent suppression of the response to TNP-F, but hapten-augmentable PFC in recipient spleens were again prevalent. Suppression of the PFC response, as well as hapten-augmentable PFC, were seen after transfer of immune serum. It was postulated that hapten augmentation of PFC was caused by displacement of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody from the surface of blocked antibody- synthesizing cells. Further studies showed that such hapten-augmentable PFC occurred in the spleens of a large percentage of both AKR/J and BALB/c mice examined after day 4 of the primary response to TNP-F. Thus, it was hypothesized that the downward regulation of the magnitude and, possibly, also of the heterogeneity of the splenic-PFC response was due to an auto-antibody response to one or more major idiotypes of the anti-TNP response.
Model-Transformation Design Patterns

This paper defines a catalogue of patterns for the specification and design of model transformations, and provides a systematic scheme and classification of these patterns, together with pattern application examples in leading model transformation languages such as ATL, QVT, GrGen.NET, and others. We consider patterns for improving transformation modularization and efficiency and for reducing data storage requirements. We define a metamodel-based formalization of model transformation design patterns, and measurement-based techniques to guide the selection of patterns. We also provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of transformation patterns on a range of different case studies.
A1C Variability Predicts Incident Cardiovascular Events, Microalbuminuria, and Overt Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Recent data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) indicated that A1C variability is associated with the risk of diabetes microvascular complications. However, these results might have been influenced by the interventional study design. Therefore, we investigated the longitudinal associations between A1C variability and diabetes complications in patients with type 1 diabetes in the observational Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 2,107 patients in the FinnDiane Study had complete data on renal status and serial measurements of A1C from baseline to follow-up (median 5.7 years), and 1,845 patients had similar data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Intrapersonal SD of serially measured A1C was considered a measure of variability. RESULTS During follow-up, 10.2% progressed to a higher albuminuria level or to end-stage renal disease, whereas 8.6% had a CVD event. The SD of serial A1C was 1.01 versus 0.75 (P < 0.001) for renal status and 0.87 versus 0.79 (P = 0.023) for CVD in progressors versus nonprogressors, respectively. In a Cox regression model, SD of serial A1C was independently associated with progression of renal disease (hazard ratio 1.92 [95% CI 1.49–2.47]) and of a CVD event (1.98 [1.39–2.82]) even when adjusting for mean A1C and traditional risk factors. Interestingly for CVD, mean serial A1C itself was not predictive even though SD of A1C was. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 1 diabetes, A1C variability was not only predictive of incident microalbuminuria and progression of renal disease but also of incident CVD events.
Fabrication and experimental demonstration of photonic crystal laser with buried heterostructure

Development of ultra-small and efficient laser sources for photonic integrated circuits is one of the main cornerstones in achieving the requirements imposed for on-chip optical interconnects [1]. The InP photonic crystal (PhC) platform with selectively embedded gain medium [2] is a promising way of separating active light amplification regions from passive regions for light propagation without induced absorption losses and surface recombination. The main focus of this work is the fabrication and experimental demonstration of a buried heterostructure (BH) photonic crystal laser bonded to a silicon wafer, illustrating the effective single-platform active-passive material integration method.
Effect of subclinical mastitis on milk plasminogen and plasmin compared with that on sodium, antitrypsin and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase

Summary The effect of subclinical mastitis on levels of plasminogen and plasmin in milk from cows in a high-yielding herd was investigated. Comparisons were made with levels of milk Na, antitrypsin and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase). In samples from mastitic quarters plasminogen activity, as measured after activation to plasmin, increased by only 21% and plasmin by 82%, while NAGase increased by 307 %. Plasminogen was the only component that was normally distributed, all other components showed more or less skewed distributions. Plasmin and plasminogen were significantly related to the other components. However, plasminogen plateaued when the other components continued to increase. There was thus no further increase in plasminogen with the severity of inflammation as with the other components. Plasmin showed a similar although less pronounced tendency. Results of treatment of mastitic whey samples with acid suggested that the non-linear increase in plasmin activity was due to interaction with acid-labile proteinase inhibitors. Mastitis led to dissociation of plasminogen and plasmin from the casein micelles. The degree of activation of plasminogen was higher with casein-associated than with soluble plasminogen in both healthy and mastitic milks. Plasmin was very closely related to milk Na, which is a sensitive indicator of epithelial integrity. It is suggested that plasmin contributes to Na leakage into milk by degrading membrane proteins of the epithelial lining. Plasminogen and antitrypsin, which are both plasma proteins, were not identically affected by stage of lactation, indicating nonidentical modes of transport from plasma to milk.
Serum levels of interleukin-18--a potential marker of cardiovascular death--could be determined by genetic predisposition.

To the Editor: Esposito et al1 recently reported that interleukin (IL)-18 and other proinflammatory cytokines are increased by hyperglycemia in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, suggesting a causal role for hyperglycemia in the immune activation of diabetes. Moreover, they speculated that IL-18 stimulated by stress hyperglycemia could play a role in acute coronary syndromes. The role of IL-18 in the development of cardiovascular disease was previously identified by a study carried out by Blankenberg et al,2 who found that IL-18 is a strong predictor of cardiovascular death in stable and unstable angina and probably is involved in atherotic plaque destabilization. It is well known that subjects with type 1 diabetes have a 2- to 4-times increased risk of death from coronary heart disease in comparison with nondiabetic age-matched individuals, and hyperglycemia is believed to be a key risk factor in the development of micro- and macrovascular complications. In our recent study (Kretowski et al, unpublished data, 2002), we observed that in …
Characterization of Heterogeneous Distribution of Tumor Blood Flow in the Rat

Angioarchitectures of ascites hepatoma AH109A and Sato lung carcinoma (SLC) were quantitatively compared by measuring the following morphometric parameters: vascular density, vascular length, distance hetween tissues and their nearest blood vessel, and total length of microvascular network per unit area. When the vascular networks in these two types of tumors were compared in the initial stage, the morphological parameters were almost identical. Correlations between tumor size and the number of starting vessels and between enlargement of the tumor and the ensuing increase in pressure of the starting vessel were also evaluated with a microcomputer and an apparatus for measuring micro–vascular pressure. The total length of tumor vascular network to which one starting vessel supplied blood increased exponentially as the tumor increased in size exponentially. There was a positive correlation between tumor size and the number of starting vessels. The range of the blood supply from one starting vessel was evidently limited. The pressure of the starting vessel increased with enlargement of the tumor size. As soon as the pressure of the starting vessel reached a plateau, however, there was a rapid increase in low–flow or no–flow areas in regions within the tumor. From the results obtained, we consider that low–flow or no–flow areas, resistant to delivery of anticancer drugs, inevitably appear with the progression of tumor growth.
A simple and efficient algorithm for computing approximate Nash equilibria in two-person zero-sum sequential games with imcomplete information

We present a simple primal-dual algorithm for computing approximate Nash equilibria in two-person zero-sum sequential games with incomplete information and perfect recall (like Texas Hold'em poker). Our algorithm only performs basic iterations (i.e matvec multiplications, clipping, etc., and no calls to external first-order oracles, no matrix inversions, etc.) and is applicable to a broad class of two-person zero-sum games including simultaneous games and sequential games with incomplete information and perfect recall. The applicability to the latter kind of games is thanks to the sequence-form representation which allows us to encode any such game as a matrix game with convex polytopial profiles. We prove that the number of iterations needed to produce a Nash equilibrium with a given precision is inversely proportional to the precision. We also present experimental results on simulated and real games (Kuhn poker).
Minimizing Average Spraying Cost for Routing in Delay Tolerant Networks

oIn this paper, we study cost efcient multi-copy spraying algorithm for routing in Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) in which a source-to-destination path does not exist most of the time. We present a novel idea and the corresponding algorithm for achieving the average minimum cost of packet transmission while maintaining the desired delivery rate by the given deadline. In the presented algorithm, the number of message copies in the network depends on the urgency of meeting the delivery deadline for that message. We nd the parameters of efcient copying strategy analytically and validate the analytical results with simulations. The results demonstrate that our time dependent spraying algorithm achieves lower cost of message copying than the standard spraying algorithm while maintaining the desired delivery rate.
Effect of okadaic acid on cultured clam heart cells: involvement of MAPkinase pathways

Summary Okadaic acid (OA) is one of the main diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins and a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. The downstream signal transduction pathways following the protein phosphatase inhibition are still unknown and the results of most of the previous studies are often conflicting. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of OA on heart clam cells and to analyse its possible mechanisms of action by investigating the signal transduction pathways involved in OA cytotoxicity. We showed that OA at 1 µM after 24 h of treatment induces disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, rounding and detachment of fibroblastic cells. Moreover, treatment of heart cells revealed a sequential activation of MAPK proteins depending on the OA concentration. We suggest that the duration of p38 and JNK activation is a critical factor in determining cell apoptosis in clam cardiomyocytes. In the opposite, ERK activation could be involved in cell survival. The cell death induced by OA is a MAPK modulated pathway, mediated by caspase 3-dependent mechanism. OA was found to induce no significant effect on spontaneous beating rate or inward L-type calcium current in clam cardiomyocytes, suggesting that PP1 was not inhibited even by the highest dose of OA.
Pain predictability reverses valence ratings of a relief-associated stimulus

Relief from pain is positively valenced and entails reward-like properties. Notably, stimuli that became associated with pain relief elicit reward-like implicit responses too, but are explicitly evaluated by humans as aversive. Since the unpredictability of pain makes pain more aversive, this study examined the hypotheses that the predictability of pain also modulates the valence of relief-associated stimuli. In two studies, we presented one conditioned stimulus (FORWARDCS+) before a painful unconditioned stimulus (US), another stimulus (BACKWARDCS+) after the painful US, and a third stimulus (CS−) was never associated with the US. In Study 1, FORWARDCS+ predicted half of the USs while the other half was delivered unwarned and followed by BACKWARDCS+. In Study 2, all USs were predicted by FORWARDCS+ and followed by BACKWARDCS+. In Study 1 both FORWARDCS+ and BACKWARDCS+ were rated as negatively valenced and high arousing after conditioning, while BACKWARDCS+ in Study 2 acquired positive valence and low arousal. Startle amplitude was significantly attenuated to BACKWARDCS+ compared to FORWARDCS+ in Study 2, but did not differ among CSs in Study 1. In summary, predictability of aversive events reverses the explicit valence of a relief-associated stimulus.
The book of leadership wisdom : classic writings by legendary business leaders

THE NECESSARY QUALITIES. Harold S. Geneen: Leadership. Andrew S. Grove: Taking the Hype Out of Leadership Katherine Graham: If "Business Credibility" Means Anything. Chester I. Barnard: The Active Qualities of Leaders. A. Montgomery Ward: The Elements of Personal Power. Roberto C. Goizueta: The Real Essence of Business. DEALING WITH ADVERSITY. H. Ross Perot: Business Leaders: It's Up to Us to Recover the Industrial Leadership. John F. Welch, Jr.: Global Competitiveness: America in the Eye of the Hurricane. Rene C. McPherson: The People Principle. Max DePree: Roving Leadership. Olive Ann Beech: The Woman Executive. J. Paul Getty: The Businessman at Bay. VISIONS OF PROGRESS. Thomas A. Edison: Machine and Progress. David Sarnoff: The Fabulous Future. Robert N. Noyce: Innovation: The Fruit of Success. Charles B. Wang: Techno Vision. Bill Gates: A View from Olympus. EVOLVING PERSPECTIVES ON LABOR. William Randolph Hearst: Labor Relations: The Division of Wealth. Daniel Guggenheim: Some Thoughts on Industrial Unrest. William Cooper Procter: How We Divide with Our Men. Frederick Coolidge Crawford: Good Human Relations: The Solution of Labor Problems. Harry A. Bullis: Business and Labor. Frederick W. Smith: Creating an Empowering Environment for Alll Employees. COMPANY CULTURE. David Packard: Trust in People. Rober D. Haas: Ethics: A Global Business Challenge. Sir Adrian Cadbury: Ethical Managers Makes Their Own Rules. An Wang: Responsibility. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield: Lead with Your Values. Akio Morita: American and Japanese Styles. HABITS AND IDIOSYNCRACIES. John H. Johnson: Failure Is a Word I Don't Accept. Kemmons Wilson: Take Your Idea and See It Through. Ray Kroc: Self-Discipline Calles Key to Success. Dave Thomas: The Wonder of Routine. Sandra L. Kurtzig: In the Public Eye. Willard F. Rockwell, Jr.: Reviewing Youself. William Wrigley, Jr.: I Never Make an Appointment. A. P. Giannini: I Answer the Telephone Myself. MOTIVATORS AND MENTORS. Ralph Lazarus: The Case of the Oriental Rug. John H. Patterson: How I Get My Ideas Across. Louis F. Swith: G. F. Swift: I Can Raise Better Men Than I Can Hire. Andrew Carnegie: The Secret of Business Is the Management of Men. Charles W. Patterson: Business Is a Young Man's Game. T. Coleman du Pont: Are You a Job-Holder or a Result-Getter? Theodore N. Vail: The Making of a Successful Businessman. LEADING REVOLUTION. Lawrence A. Bossidy: Reality-Based Leadership: Changes in the Workplace. Robert W. Galvin: Real Leader Create Industries. Lillian Vernon: Growth. Thomas J. Watson. Jr.: Reorganization. Michael D. Eisner: Managing a Creative Organization. Linda J. Wachner: Do It Now! J. Willard Marriott, Jr.: Preserve Order Amid Change. Henry Ford: How to Keep a Business Growing. Chronology. Author Index. Acknowledgments. Notes. Credits and Sources. Index.
What determines the magnitude of carbon cycle‐climate feedbacks?

Positive feedbacks between climate change and the carbon cycle have the potential to amplify the growth of atmospheric carbon dioxide and accelerate future climate warming. However, both the magnitude of and the processes which drive future carbon cycle‐climate feedbacks remain highly uncertain. In this study, we use a coupled climate‐carbon model to investigate how the response of vegetation photosynthesis to climate change contributes to the overall strength of carbon cycle‐climate feedbacks. We find that the feedback strength is particularly sensitive to the model representation of the photosynthesis‐temperature response, with lesser sensitivity to the parameterization of soil moisture and nitrogen availability. In all simulations, large feedbacks are associated with a climatic suppression of terrestrial primary productivity and consequent reduction of terrestrial carbon uptake. This process is particularly evident in the tropics and can explain a large part of the range of carbon cycle‐climate feedbacks simulated by different coupled climate‐carbon models.
Gliding movement of and bidirectional transport along single native microtubules from squid axoplasm: evidence for an active role of microtubules in cytoplasmic transport

Native microtubules prepared from extruded and dissociated axoplasm have been observed to transport organelles and vesicles unidirectionally in fresh preparations and more slowly and bidirectionally in older preparations. Both endogenous and exogenous (fluorescent polystyrene) particles in rapid Brownian motion alight on and adhere to microtubules and are transported along them. Particles can switch from one intersecting microtubule to another and move in either direction. Microtubular segments 1 to 30 microns long, produced by gentle homogenization, glide over glass surfaces for hundreds of micrometers in straight lines unless acted upon by obstacles. While gliding they transport particles either in the same (forward) direction and/or in the backward direction. Particle movement and gliding of microtubule segments require ATP and are insensitive to taxol (30 microM). It appears, therefore, that the mechanisms producing the motive force are very closely associated with the native microtubule itself or with its associated proteins. Although these movements appear irreconcilable with several current theories of fast axoplasmic transport, in this article we propose two models that might explain the observed phenomena and, by extension, the process of fast axoplasmic transport itself. The findings presented and the possible mechanisms proposed for fast axoplasmic transport have potential applications across the spectrum of microtubule-based motility processes.