Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of the K+ channel BKCa is involved in the relaxing effect of propofol on coronary arteries

Background and objective: Propofol may cause undesirable hypotension due to vasodilation. The underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. We investigated the mechanisms by which propofol relaxes vascular segments. Methods: We studied the effect of propofol on isolated porcine coronary artery rings precontracted with potassium chloride or prostaglandin F2α. Results: Propofol, in a concentration-dependent manner, relaxed all segments at concentrations of 5 μg mL−1 and above. This relaxation was unaltered in the presence of Nω-nitro-L-arginine, indomethacin, diltiazem and glibenclamide. Tetraethylammonium chloride, an inhibitor of the BKCa K+ channel (a high conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel), dose-dependently attenuated the vasodilating effect of propofol (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggests that the activation of the BKCa channel may contribute to the vasodilating effect of propofol, hereby causing hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle membrane and reduction of smooth muscle tone.
Mining Genomes of Three Marine Sponge-Associated Actinobacterial Isolates for Secondary Metabolism

ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three actinobacterial isolates, Micromonospora sp. RV43, Rubrobacter sp. RV113, and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163 that had previously been isolated from Mediterranean sponges. The draft genomes were analyzed for the presence of gene clusters indicative of secondary metabolism using antiSMASH 3.0 and NapDos pipelines. Our findings demonstrated the chemical richness of sponge-associated actinomycetes and the efficacy of genome mining in exploring the genomic potential of sponge-derived actinomycetes.
Can Genetically Modified Crops Help the Poor ? Options for Canada ’ s Foreign Policy

Overarching themes for the series and specific topics are selected on the basis of their importance and timeliness, as well as the “ripeness” of the underlying scholarship. Accordingly, the series focused on “Genetic information,” whereas in year two, attention shifted to “Translational Genomics”. The third series, “The Innovation Continuum” broadens the discussion by casting the process of innovation in a broader societal context. The 2014 series focuses on the bioeconomy. The concept of the bioeconomy is meant to capture economic activities, and their related products and services, which result from new discoveries in the biosciences, including genomics.
An analog integrated circuit for motion detection

It was clarified in motion detection that the analog network based on a biological system works in a similar manner to a simplified algorithm of the optical flow. The proposed network is constructed by combining simple fundamental circuits called VSC. The direction and speed of motion can be detected with the network. The network is expandable for large scale integration. A motion detection system for the two dimensional space was proposed based on biological systems.
Identification and Functional Analysis of Two Ca2+-binding EF-hand Motifs in the B"/PR72 Subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A*

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a multifunctional serine/threonine phosphatase that is critical to many cellular processes including cell cycle regulation and signal transduction. PP2A is a heterotrimer containing a structural (A) and catalytic (C) subunit, associated with one variable regulatory or targeting B-type subunit, of which three families have been described to date (B/PR55, B′/PR61, and B"/PR72). We identified two functional and highly conserved Ca2+-binding EF-hand motifs in human B"/PR72 (denoted EF1 and EF2), demonstrating for the first time the ability of Ca2+ to interact directly with and regulate PP2A. EF1 and EF2 apparently bind Ca2+ with different affinities. Ca2+ induces a significant conformational change, which is dependent on the integrity of the motifs. We have further evaluated the effects of Ca2+ on subunit composition, subcellular targeting, catalytic activity, and function during the cell cycle of a PR72-containing PP2A trimer (PP2AT72) by site-directed mutagenesis of either or both motifs. The results suggest that integrity of EF2 is required for A/PR65 subunit interaction and proper nuclear targeting of PR72, whereas EF1 might mediate the effects of Ca2+ on PP2AT72 activity in vitro and is at least partially required for the ability of PR72 to alter cell cycle progression upon forced expression.
A Novel Phospholipase A1 with Sequence Homology to a Mammalian Sec23p-interacting Protein, p125*

p125, a mammalian Sec23p-interacting protein, exhibits sequence homology with bovine testis phosphatidic acid-preferring phospholipase A1. In this study, we identified and characterized a new homologue of p125, KIAA0725p. KIAA0725p exhibited remarkable sequence similarity with p125 throughout the entire sequence determined but lacked an N-terminal proline-rich, Sec23p-interacting region. In vitro binding analysis showed that KIAA0725p does not bind to Sec23p. KIAA0725p possessed phospholipase A1 activity preferentially for phosphatidic acid. We examined the effects of overexpression of KIAA0725p on the morphology of organelles. Overexpression of KIAA0725p, like that of p125, caused dispersion of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment and Golgi apparatus. Different from the case of p125, overexpression of KIAA0725p resulted in dispersion of tethering proteins located in the Golgi region and caused aggregation of the endoplasmic reticulum. Our results indicate that KIAA0725p is a new member of the phosphatidic acid-preferring phospholipase A1protein family and suggest that the cellular function of KIAA0725p is different from that of p125.
Giant spin-orbit-induced spin splitting in two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductors

Fully relativistic first-principles calculations based on density functional theory are performed to study the spin-orbit-induced spin splitting in monolayer systems of the transition-metal dichalcogenides MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2. All these systems are identified as direct-band-gap semiconductors. Giant spin splittings of 148–456 meV result from missing inversion symmetry. Full out-of-plane spin polarization is due to the two-dimensional nature of the electron motion and the potential gradient asymmetry. By suppression of the Dyakonov-Perel spin relaxation, spin lifetimes are expected to be very long. Because of the giant spin splittings, the studied materials have great potential in spintronics applications.
Thermographic and histological analysis of rabbit different tenorrhaphies techniques (4 and 6 strands) after early active mobilization

Introduction This research is based on the results of the surgeries of tenorraphy, which have been improved due to the association between strong and not voluminous sutures and physiotherapic protocols, which preconize the early active motion to the postoperative period. Objective To evaluate the healing process in vivo in different types of tenorraphies. Methods Thirty-six rabbits that underwent early active motion after tenorraphy. The sample was constituted of 3 groups of 12, in accordance with the 3 different types of suture (Brasil, Indiana and Tsai). Results On the 15th and 30th days after the surgery, thermographic and histological analyses revealed similar results that all groups showed similar behaviors in the same time of surgical repair, just differentiating between the periods. On the 30th day analysis were observed that collagen fibers being more exuberant thickening, thus being able to offer higher tensile strength to the tendon. Conclusion That suggests early active motion may be increased gradually to around the 30th day taking this as clinical relevance.
Asia and Global Production Networks: Implications for Trade, Incomes and Economic Vulnerability

This timely book deploys new tools and measures to understand how global production networks change the nature of global economic interdependence, and how that in turn changes our understanding of which policies are appropriate in this new environment. Bringing to bear an array of the latest methods and data to study global value chains, this unique book assesses the evolution of global value chains at the firm level, and how this affects competitiveness in Asia.
Deficits in working memory visual-phonological binding in children with dyslexia.

Learning to read involves cross-modal binding processes, that is, the association between visual and phonological information in the mapping of written forms (graphemes) to phonological codes. The present study examined visual-phonological binding in a memory binding task, comparing a group of children with dyslexia with a control group of typical readers, matched for age, grade, and sex. Children were required to memorize the association between 8 shapes and nonwords presented in association for 4 times, placed either in fixed or variable spatial locations across trials. The results showed that children with dyslexia have deficits in cross-modal memory binding and are not able to use spatial location as an effective cue to bind information, as it was observed for control children. In addition, children with dyslexia made more phonological errors and binding errors than the control group. A purely phonological deficit in dyslexia does not explain the overall pattern of results, and dyslexia may involve deficits in 1 or more types of processes, including the capacity to bind visual to phonological information. Thus, assessment of binding processes may have implications both for diagnosis and treatment.
A 30-GHz Low-Phase-Noise 0.35-μm CMOS Push-Push Oscillator Using Micromachined Inductors

A low-phase-noise 0.35-mum CMOS push-push oscillator utilizing micromachined inductors is presented in this paper. With the micromachined high-Q inductors, the oscillator achieves an oscillating frequency of 30.9 GHz while exhibiting an output power of -4 dBm with a low phase noise of -102.3 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset and the figure of merit (FoM) of -171.4 dBc/Hz. The fundamental rejection is 30 dB. This oscillator achieves low phase noise, good FOM, high output power, and also demonstrates the highest operating frequency among previously published Si-based and GaAs-based VCOs using micromachined structures
Status and Outlooks of Flip Chip Technology

Introduction The flip chip technology was introduced by IBM in the early 1960s for their solid logic technology, which became the logical foundation of the IBM System/360 computer line [1]. Figure 1(a) shows the first IBM flip chip with three terminal transistors, which are Ni/Au plated Cu balls embedded in a Sn–Pb solder bump on the three I/O pads of transistor. A Cr–Cu– Au adhesion/seed layer is deposited between the Al–Si contact pads on the Si chip and the solder bump. Figure 1(b) shows the first IBM flip chip assembly (three chips) on a ceramic substrate.
Sulfated Lewis X Determinants as a Major Structural Motif in Glycans from LS174T-HM7 Human Colon Carcinoma Mucin*

This article describes oligosaccharide structures of mucin isolated from nude mouse xenograft tumors produced by LS174T-HM7 cells, a subline of the human colon carcinoma LS174T with higher metastatic tendency and higher mucin production. A striking feature of the oligosaccharides of the LS174T-HM7 xenograft tumor mucin was a predominance of sulfated Lewis X determinants: HSO3-Galβ1–4(Fucα1–3)GlcNAc. In addition to one previously known saccharide with one sulfated Lewis X determinant, the HM7 xenograft tumor mucin contained multiple novel structures containing one, two, or three sulfated Lewis X determinants. This determinant, known to act as a selectin ligand, has been found previously in minor saccharide components of human milk as well as mucins, but never before as a predominant structure in one mucin source.
Microglia and neuropathic pain

In contrast to physiological pain, pathological pain is not dependent on the presence of tissue‐damaging stimuli. One type of pathological pain—neuropathic pain—is often a consequence of nerve injury or of diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, or cancer. Neuropathic pain can be agonizing, can persist over long periods, and, unfortunately, is often resistant to known painkillers. There is a rapidly growing body of evidence indicating that microglia, the CNS immune cells, have causal roles in the pathogenesis of pain hypersensitivity following nerve injury. We will review recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms producing neuropathic pain, focusing on the roles of microglia‐expressed molecules, including cell surface receptors, intracellular signaling molecules, and diffusible factors involved in nerve injury‐induced pain behaviors and hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons. Elucidating how spinal microglia cause neuropathic pain may provide us with exciting insights into pain mechanisms and clues for developing new drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Level of transaminase enzymes in the reported cases of bird flu infection in Thailand.

Bird flu or avian flu, caused by H5N1 virus, is a new emerging infectious disease. There has been worldwide situation regarding avian influenza infections in poultry from 1997 (1). Kida noted that this H5N1 virus jumped the species barrier and caused severe disease with high mortality in humans in Vietnam and Thailand (2). Most infected cases usually developed progressive pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and consequently died. Here, the author performs this mini-study in order to document the impact of bird flu infection on level of transaminase enzymes among reported Thai patients. A literature review on the papers concerning human bird flu in Thailand was performed. The author performed the literature review human bird flu infection reports in Thailand from database of the published works cited in the Index Medicus and Science Citation Index. The author also reviewed the published works in all 256 local Thai journals, which is not included in the international citation index, for the report of human bird flu infection in Thailand. The reports that contained no complete data were excluded for further analysis. According to this review, there are 6 reports (3-8) covering 12 Thai patients with confirmed diagnosis of bird flu. However, the complete data for level of transaminase enzymes were available on only 6 patients. The reported SGOT ranges from 120 to 790 U/l with average value equal to 367.8 + 80.2 U/L (median = 280 U/l). The reported SGPT ranges from 43 to 150 U/l with average value equal to 80.2 + 46.4 U/l (median = 52 U/l). Here, the elevation of the transaminase enzymes, especially extremely elevation of SGOT, can be seen. These findings agree with the report on the outbreak in Hong Kong that liver dysfunction was common (9). This can imply that hepatitis might be an important manifestation of human bird flu infection. The H5N1 itself might have some process causing liver pathology.
The assessment of pain perception.

1. A reflex is described by means of which pain perception in man and animals can be assessed when voluntary musculature is paralysed. 2. Rabbit E.Co.Gs. and human E.E. Gs. in various stages of anaesthesia and after electro-convulsant shock are described. 3. The functional activity of the brain responsible for the observed records is discussed.
Harmonic current compensation improvement at point of common coupling using hybrid natural green sources

Ideally, distribution utilities are responsible to provide good power at a fixed rated frequency to the consumer end at unity power factor. Due to the bulk usage of non-linear power electronic loads, distribution system network (DSN) suffers large current distortion. Further, the intermittent hybrid natural green sources (HNGS) like PV and PMSG wind grid connected using hysteresis current controller (HCC) through 3-phase VSI effects more distortion of current which contaminates the power quality at the consumer end. Thus power quality is a vital issue which needs to be presented well in this paper. This paper adopts the shunt active filter (SHAF) using real and reactive current (id−iq) control strategy to analyze the case studies with presence and absence of HNGS under unbalanced nonlinear load condition for the reduction in current distortion at distribution utility side. The MATLAB/Simulink examined to validate the performance of id−iq control strategy.
Design of 2-D variable fractional delay FIR filter using 2-D differentiators

In this paper, the design of two-dimensional (2-D) variable fractional delay FIR filter using 2-D differentiators is presented. First, the Taylor series expansion is used to transform the specification of a 2-D variable fractional delay filter into the one of a 2-D differentiator. This transform makes the design problem of a 2-D fractional delay filter reduce to the design of 2-D differentiators with different orders. Then, a simple window method is proposed to design the 2-D differentiators. Also an analysis of the design error is provided. Finally, examples are demonstrated to illustrate the effectiveness of this new design approach.
Diffuse Pachymeningeal Enhancement on Brain MRI: Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension and Head Trauma

Purpose: We evaluated the MRI finding of pachymeningeal enhancement in patients with intracranial hypotension and head trauma with particular attention to differential findings and change in follow-up study, and in order to support the knowledge about the pathophysiology of d ural enhancement. Materials and Methods : The findings of enhanced brain MRI offifteen patients who showed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement were retrospectively examined. Seven of fifteen patients were finally diagnosed as spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) . Eight of fifteen patients had a recent history of head trauma. We analyzed the shape, thickness , continuity and extent of dural enhancement , and the others concerned with positive MR findings. We also analyzed findings suggested displacement of brain parenchymadisplacement of the iter and cerebellar tonsil, and f1attening of the anterior aspect of the pons. Four of seven patients with SIH and four of eight patients with head trauma, underwent fl이low-up MRI. In the follow-up study, the presence of resolving pachymeningeal enhancement and symptom improvement was investigated. Results : In all cases of SIH, the dura showed diffuse, even 3 (1 mm thick, global and contiguous enhancement along both cerebral convexities, both tentoria, and the falx. Displacement of the iter was noted in six cases and f1attening of the anterior aspect of the pons in five. Displacement of the cerebellar tonsil was noted in one case. Five of seven cases showed small amount of subdural f1uid collection. In all èases ofhead trauma, the dura was enhanced diffusely and asymmetrically, and showed no contiguity. Its distribution was consistent with the locations of traumatic lesions. Displacement of the iter was noted in one case. In four cases of SIH, clinical symptoms had improved, and three showed complete resolution of dural enhancement, in one patient continuously showed partial dural enhancement. Four cases ofhead trauma showed complete resolution of dural enhancement. Conclusion : Reversible diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement and additional findings in brain MRI of SIH and head trauma are valuable for differenciation from other irreversible pathological conditions related to pachymeningeal enhancement and to support the knowledge about pathophysiology of dural enhancement.
Multimicroelectrode investigation of monkey striate cortex: spike train correlations in the infragranular layers.

1. In the infragranular layers of the striate cortex of three monkeys, we studied tangential neuronal interactions by analyzing cross-correlograms calculated from spike trains recorded with 30 closely spaced microelectrodes. 2. There are two major types of correlogram structures--"narrow" peaks a few milliseconds wide, sometimes accompanied by small lateral troughs, and "broad" peaks approximately 30- to 100-ms wide. Isolated troughs are rare. Both types of structures are superimposed in the same correlograms; they are not due to shared optical stimulation. 3. In layer VI, narrow peaks are largest in a short lateral range of approximately 220 micron, and they depend on ocularity. In layer V, the lateral range is greater, and the dependency on ocularity is weak. 4. In addition, narrow peaks are largest at distances of 160 micron if the angles of preferred orientation are similar. In layer VI, however, at tangential distances of 300-400 micron, peaks are smaller, and troughs are found more often, for neuron pairs with parallel orientations compared with those with orthogonal orientations. From the agreement of this finding with a cooperative theory, we conclude that orientation selectivity is shaped by collective interactions. 5. Broad peaks always depend on ocularity, and the associated lateral interaction range exceeds the maximum of 1 mm investigated. Their size sharply decreases with receptive-field distance. 6. Average mutual delays of spikes of neuron pairs, manifest as lateral displacements of broad peaks, are interdependent; the delay between neurons 1 and 3 is the sum of that of neurons 1 and 2 and of neurons 2 and 3. This feature permits to rank the neurons on a "delay scale. " 7. We conclude from 5 and 6 above that broad peaks partly result from intraretinal interactions whose effects are transmitted to the cortex via slow and fast pathways. 8. Lateral troughs adjacent to narrow peaks provide evidence that neurons at the "slow" end of the delay scale inhibit those at the "fast" end, and to a lesser extent, nondirectional neurons inhibit directional ones.
Internal Disequilibria and Phenotypic Diversification during Replication of Hepatitis C Virus in a Noncoevolving Cellular Environment

ABSTRACT Viral quasispecies evolution upon long-term virus replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment raises relevant general issues, such as the attainment of population equilibrium, compliance with the molecular-clock hypothesis, or stability of the phenotypic profile. Here, we evaluate the adaptation, mutant spectrum dynamics, and phenotypic diversification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the course of 200 passages in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design that precluded coevolution of the cells with the virus. Adaptation to the cells was evidenced by increase in progeny production. The rate of accumulation of mutations in the genomic consensus sequence deviated slightly from linearity, and mutant spectrum analyses revealed a complex dynamic of mutational waves, which was sustained beyond passage 100. The virus underwent several phenotypic changes, some of which impacted the virus-host relationship, such as enhanced cell killing, a shift toward higher virion density, and increased shutoff of host cell protein synthesis. Fluctuations in progeny production and failure to reach population equilibrium at the genomic level suggest internal instabilities that anticipate an unpredictable HCV evolution in the complex liver environment. IMPORTANCE Long-term virus evolution in an unperturbed cellular environment can reveal features of virus evolution that cannot be explained by comparing natural viral isolates. In the present study, we investigate genetic and phenotypic changes that occur upon prolonged passage of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design in which host cell evolutionary change is prevented. Despite replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment, the virus exhibited internal population disequilibria that did not decline with increased adaptation to the host cells. The diversification of phenotypic traits suggests that disequilibria inherent to viral populations may provide a selective advantage to viruses that can be fully exploited in changing environments.