Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spaceborne Observations of the Diurnal Variation of Shortwave Aerosol Direct Radiative Effect at Top of Atmosphere Over the Dust-Dominated Arabian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

The ScaRaB payload onboard the low-inclination Megha-Tropiques (MT) satellite has been making observations of radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) for different local times (LTs) of the day over the tropics since October 2011. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the diurnal variation of the regional instantaneous aerosol direct radiative effect efficiency (IADREE) at TOA, which is otherwise not possible using the available long-term satellite observations carried out using similar sensors onboard polar sun-synchronous satellites. In this paper, the diurnal variations of the IADREE over the Arabian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean during June–September, when both these regions are engulfed by large-scale mineral dust plumes transported from the adjoining deserts, are investigated using collocated multiyear (2012–2014) observations of the MT-ScaRaB measured shortwave fluxes and MODIS-derived aerosol optical depth. The estimates of the IADREE made using the MT-ScaRaB data at 13:30 LT are found to be in agreement with those derived from the Cloud and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System data at this LT, at which the latter observations are carried out. The IADREE derived from the MT-ScaRaB shows diurnal peak value of −53 ± 10 Wm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{{-2}}}\tau _{{{550}}}^{{{-1}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and −40 ± 3 Wm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{{-2}}}\tau _{{{550}}}^{{{-1}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at solar zenith angle of ~40° over the Arabian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, respectively. Diurnal mean aerosol direct radiative effect efficiency at TOA during June–September is −22 ± 4.5 Wm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{{-2}}}\tau _{{{550}}}^{{{-1}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> over the Arabian Sea and −18 ± 3.6 Wm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{{-2}}}\tau _{{{550}}}^{{{-1}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> over the Atlantic Ocean.
Cytotoxic Effects of TGF‐α‐Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Fusion Protein in Human Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancers and cultured cell lines. TP40 is a chimeric protein composed of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) linked to a modified Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE40) that exerts growth inhibitory effects on cells bearing a high number of EGF receptors. Therefore, we compared the effect of TP40 on the growth of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing varying levels of the EGF receptor and on the growth of two human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The growth of CHO cells devoid of endogenous EGF receptors was minimally altered by high concentrations of TP40, even following a 72-h incubation period. In contrast, in CHO cells expressing ∼95,000 and 438,000 EGF receptors per cell, one-half maximal growth inhibition occurred at 5 and 3 ng/ml TP40, respectively. Following a 72-h incubation in T3M4 and COLO 357 human pancreatic cancer cells, one-half maximal growth inhibition occurred at 0.2 and 0.4 ng/ml TP40, respectively. This effect was significantly greater than that of native Pseudomonas exotoxin A. These findings indicate that human pancreatic cancer cells are markedly sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of TP40 and raise the possibility that TP40 may have a therapeutic role in this disorder.
T helper cell infiltration and foam cell proliferation are early events in the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

The involvement of T cells in the early cellular events in atherosclerosis was studied in rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol diet by use of specific monoclonal anti-rabbit CD5 and CD4 antibodies. T cells were not seen in the aortic intimas of rabbits not fed cholesterol but were seen in intimal lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Accumulation of T cells in plaques occurred between 2 and 4 weeks after commencement of cholesterol feeding, and the greatest density of CD5-positive T cells were observed after 4 weeks (11.2 +/- 6.0 cells/mm2 [mean +/- SEM]; P < .02 compared with normal control rabbits, P < .03 compared with 2-week plaques). Staining for CD4 indicated that the majority of these T cells were T helper cells (9.9 +/- 4.9 cells/mm2). At this time, plaques showed a dense cellular infiltrate of macrophages (3623 +/- 467 cells/mm2) and macrophage proliferation was evident (2.1 +/- 1.1% of total plaque cells). As the cross-sectional area of intimal lesions increased progressively in subsequent weeks, their cellularity declined (8 weeks, 2239 +/- 271 cells/mm2; 12 weeks, 1535 +/- 55 cells/mm2; 16 weeks, 1747 +/- 242 cells/mm2, P < .05 for all groups compared with the 4-week group). The density of the T cell infiltrate (8 weeks, 6.7 +/- 3.0 cells/mm2; 12 weeks, 0.6 +/- 0.2 cells/mm2; 16 weeks, 1.0 +/- 0.4 cells/mm2) and the proliferative index of cells within plaques (8 weeks, 0.6 +/- 0.2%; 12 weeks, 0.8 +/- 0.3%; 16 weeks, 0.2 +/- 0.2%) also declined. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
VE-cadherin-derived cell-penetrating peptide, pVEC, with carrier functions.

Cell-penetrating peptides, CPPs, have been shown to translocate into living cells by a receptor-independent mechanism and to carry macromolecules over the plasma membrane. This article reports studies of the internalization of pVEC, an 18-amino acid-long peptide derived from the murine sequence of the cell adhesion molecule vascular endothelial cadherin, amino acids 615-632. Fluorophore-labeled pVEC entered four different cell lines tested: human aortic endothelial cells, brain capillary endothelial cells, Bowes melanoma cells, and murine brain endothelial cells. In order to evaluate the translocation efficiency of pVEC, we performed a side-by-side comparison with penetratin, a well-characterized CPP. The cellular uptake of pVEC was highest for murine brain endothelial cells. All cell lines tested contained equal or slightly higher concentrations of pVEC than penetratin. pVEC mainly accumulated in nuclear structures but was also found throughout the cells. Furthermore, pVEC functioned as a transporter of both a hexameric peptide nucleic acid molecule of 1.7 kDa and a 67-kDa protein, streptavidin-FITC, and cellular uptake of fluorophore-labeled pVEC took place at 4 degrees C, suggesting a nonendocytotic mechanism of translocation. In conclusion, our results indicate that pVEC is efficiently and rapidly taken up into cells and functions as a potent carrier peptide.
A Model-based Numerical Analysis in the Early Development of Intracranial Aneurysms

Hemodynamic stresses are known to degenerate the arterial wall and be involved in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm formation and development. The present study simulates the formation and growth of aneurysms by focusing on the interplay between the wall shear stress, degeneration of the mechanical wall properties, and the wall deformation. We construct numerical aneurysm models arisen from both straight and curved arteries, and we hypothesize that high local wall shear stress larger than a certain threshold value will lead to a linear decrease in the mechanical property of the vessel wall. The degeneration of vessel wall leads to wall deformation and redistribution of the wall shear stress, which in turn leads to further degeneration of the wall. Development of aneurysm is observed in both the straight and curved models. In the straight model, the growth of aneurysm is small and mainly at the distal neck region, and the aneurysm stops growing after several steps. In contrast, in the curved model, the aneurysm continues to grow in height and width. Our computer simulation shows that even if the wall shear stress inside a saccular aneurysm is low, aneurysm development can occur due to degeneration of the wall distal and proximal to the aneurysm. The interaction between the geometry change and the wall degeneration is key to the development of aneurysms. The method demonstrates the potential utility of model-based numerical methods in the investigation of developmental biology of intracranial aneurysms
Elongated oligomers in β2-microglobulin amyloid assembly revealed by ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry

The key to understanding amyloid disease is the characterization of oligomeric species formed during the early stages of fibril assembly. Here we have used electrospray ionisation-ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry to identify and structurally characterize the oligomers formed during amyloid assembly from β2-microglobulin (β2m). β2m oligomers are shown to have collision cross-sections consistent with monomeric units arranged in elongated assemblies prior to fibril formation. Direct observation, separation, and quantification of transient oligomeric species reveals that monomers to tetramers are populated through the lag phase with no evidence for the significant population of larger oligomeric species under the conditions employed. The dynamics of each oligomeric species were monitored directly within the ensemble at concentrations commensurate with amyloid formation by observing the subunit exchange of 14N- and 15N- labeled oligomers. Analysis of the data revealed a decrease in oligomer dynamics concomitant with increasing oligomer size and the copopulation of dynamic dimeric and trimeric species with more stable trimeric and tetrameric species. The results presented map the events occurring during the lag phase of fibril formation and give a clear insight into the structural characteristics and dynamic nature of the β2m oligomers, demonstrating the existence of elongated assemblies arising from an intact amyloidogenic protein during fibril formation.
Non‐adherence in pediatric liver transplant recipients − an assessment of risk factors and natural history

Abstract: Despite the fact that non‐adherence to medical therapy is one of the major causes of late morbidity and mortality in pediatric liver transplant recipients, little is known of the risk factors involved in this behavior. Three cases of fatal non‐adherence are reported. Factors associated with non‐adherence were investigated by performing a retrospective chart review of a panel of 27 variables in an age‐matched cohort of 15 pediatric liver transplant recipients. The most striking differences between the severely non‐adherent group and the age‐matched cohort included history of substance abuse, child abuse (physical or sexual), not having two parents at home, having received public assistance, having been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, and history of school dropout. In addition it appeared that a pretransplant diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis was associated with more significant medical sequelae related to non‐adherence. These findings are preliminary owing to the retrospective design of this study, but could be used as a starting point for a prospective study of this important phenomenon.
A Colorado statewide survey of walking and its relation to excessive weight.

INTRODUCTION There is an urgent need to increase the physical activity in the population. Small-scale success has been achieved in programs like Colorado on the Move (COM), an obesity prevention program using electronic pedometers. METHODS To provide baseline information for COM, this first-ever statewide survey of walking was conducted with 1098 individuals. The weighted mean BMI was 25.3 +/- 0.18 kg x m(-2), and mean age was 44 +/- 0.42 yr of age. Subjects participated in a short telephone interview and then were sent a pedometer to wear for four consecutive days. A total of 742 of the 1098 subjects completed the pedometer phase. RESULTS The average adult in Colorado reported taking 6804 steps per day. About 33% reported taking fewer than 5000 steps per day, and only 16% reported taking 10,000 or more steps per day. Steps per day increased with other self-reported measures of physical activity (P = 0.0001) and decreased with self-reported inactivity (P = 0.0001). Significant determinants of steps per day included increasing age (negative, P = 0.001), marital status (positive for single status, P = 0.05), income (positive for incomes of dollar 25,000 to dollar 99,000, P = 0.003), and increasing BMI (negative for BMI > or = 30 kg x m(-2), P = 0.000). Obese individuals (BMI > or = 30 kg x m(-2)) walked about 2000 fewer steps per day than normal-weight individuals. These results provide the first population data on current walking levels, on how this relates to self-reported physical activity, and on determinants of walking. Results also provide a baseline level of walking for future evaluation of COM. CONCLUSION Increasing steps per day appears to be a good target to use in interventions to increase physical activity. Even in Colorado, one of the leanest states, very low levels of physical activity are seen in much of the population.
Electrothermal pumping with interdigitated electrodes and resistive heaters

Interdigitated electrodes are used in electrokinetic lab‐on‐a‐chip devices for dielectrophoretic trapping and characterization of suspended particles, as well as the production of field‐induced fluid flow via AC electroosomosis and electrothermal mechanisms. However, the optimum design for dielectrophoresis, that if symmetrical electrodes, cannot induce bulk electrohydrodynamic pumping. In addition, the mechanism of intrinsic electrothermal pumping is affected by the properties of the fluid, with thermal fields being generated by Joule Heating. This work demonstrates the incorporation of an underlying thin film heater, electrically isolated from the interdigitated electrodes by an insulator layer, to enhance bulk electrothermal pumping. The use of integrated heaters allows the thermal field generation to be controlled independently of the electric field. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the importance of geometrical arrangement of the heater with respect to the interdigitated electrodes, as well as electrode size, spacing, and arrangement. The optimization of such a system is a careful balance between electrokinetics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics. The heater location and electrode spacing influence the rate of electrothermal pumping significantly more than electrode width and insulator layer thickness. This demonstration will aid in the development of microfluidic electrokinetic systems that want to utilize the advantages associated with electrothermal pumping while simultaneously applying other lab‐on‐a‐chip electrokinetics like dielectrophoresis.
Detection of solar particle events inside FPGAs

The intensity of radiation in space, which is affected by the sun, can differ over five orders of magnitude within a few days. This variation is caused by shocks of fast coronal mass ejections, which drive high-energy and long-duration particle events, named solar particle events. With the knowledge of the current solar condition, operators can take countermeasures. They can save unnecessary redundancy during relaxed periods or switch the system in a safe state during a harsh period. We propose the block RAM inside the FPGA as a single-event upset sensor to detect solar particle events. The user can still access these block RAMs because we only evaluate the error signals from the error-correcting code logic. We are developing a solar condition detector including a model for statistical classification. This is based on Petri nets and we perform static as well as transient analyses to check the plausibility and to determine the detection time. By combining the evaluation of the model with the results of the implemented FPGA design, we detect the significant June 2015 solar particle event after 13.1 min (784 s), using all 298 block RAMs of a Virtex-5QV. The duration of this solar particle event was 56 h and the peak particle flux occurred after 21.6 h as energetic storm particle. We conclude, that solar particle events cause a highly dynamic radiation environment, but the onset of such high-intensity events can be detected and a response can be organized in a timely manner.
A Complete Treatment of Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Review of Surgical Technique and Current Challenges to Expand Indication of Patients

The growing disparity between the number of liver transplant candidates and the supply of deceased donor organs has motivated the development of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Over the last two decades, the operation has been markedly improved by innovations rendering modern results comparable with those of deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). However, there remains room for further innovation, particularly in adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). Unlike whole‐size DDLT and pediatric LDLT, size‐mismatching between ALDLT graft and recipient body weight and changing dynamics of posttransplant allograft regeneration have remained major challenges. A better understanding of the complex surgical anatomy and physiologic differences of ALDLT helps avoid small‐for‐size graft syndrome, graft congestion from outflow obstruction and graft hypoperfusion from portal flow steal. ALDLT for high‐urgency patients (Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score >30) can achieve results comparable to DDLT in high volume centers. Size limitations of partial grafts and donor safety issues can be overcome with dual grafts and modified right‐lobe grafts that preserve the donor's middle hepatic vein trunk. Extended application of LDLT for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma above Milan criteria is an optional strategy at the cost of slightly compromised survival. ABO‐blood group incompatibility obstacles have been broken down by introducing a paired donor exchange program and refined peri‐operative management of ABO‐incompatible ALDLT. This review focuses on recent innovations of surgical techniques, safe donor selection, current strategies to expand ALDLT with broadened patient selection criteria and important aspects of teamwork required for success.
S. pombe btn1, the orthologue of the Batten disease gene CLN3, is required for vacuole protein sorting of Cpy1p and Golgi exit of Vps10p

Batten disease is characterised by lysosomal dysfunction. The most common type of the disease is caused by mutations in the membrane protein CLN3, whose function is unknown. We show that the fission yeast orthologue Btn1p, previously implicated in vacuole function, is required for correct sorting of the vacuole hydrolase carboxypeptidase Y (Cpy1p). This is, in part, due to a defect in trafficking of Vps10p, the sorting receptor for Cpy1p, from the Golgi to the trans-Golgi network in btn1Δ cells. Our data also implicate btn1 in other Vps10-independent Cpy1-sorting pathways. Furthermore, btn1 affects the number, intracellular location and structure of Golgi compartments. We show that the prevacuole location of Btn1p is at the Golgi, because Btn1p colocalises predominantly with the Golgi marker Gms1p in compartments that are sensitive to Brefeldin A. Btn1p function might be linked to that of Vps34p, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, because Btn1p acts as a multicopy suppressor of the severe Cpy1p vacuole protein-sorting defect of vps34Δ cells. Together, these results indicate an important role for Btn1p in the Golgi complex, which affects Golgi homeostasis and vacuole protein sorting. We propose a similar role for CLN3 in mammalian cells.
Patterns of colocalization of GABA, glutamate and glycine immunoreactivities in terminals that synapse on dendrites of noradrenergic neurons in rat locus coeruleus

Amino acid transmitters play a key role in regulating the activity of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus. We investigated the anatomical substrate for this regulation by quantifying immunoreactivity for GABA, glutamate and glycine in terminals that contacted the dendrites of tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive principal neurons in rat locus coeruleus. Pre‐embedding peroxidase immunocytochemistry was used to detect tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactivity in Vibratome sections of tissue perfused with 2.5% glutaraldehyde. GABA, glutamate and glycine were localized with postembedding immunogold labelling. Gold particle densities over terminals were measured in three semiserial ultrathin sections, each reacted for a different amino acid. More than 90% (range among rats, 89%−95%) of the terminals analyzed (n = 288) were immunoreactive for at least one amino acid. A high proportion (39%−49%) were positive for two or three amino acids. About two‐thirds (60%−69%) of the boutons contained GABA, of which more than half (51%−55%) also contained glycine. More than one‐third (36%−38%) of the terminals were positive for glycine. Terminals immunoreactive for glycine alone were rare (0%−2%). About one‐third of the terminals showed glutamate‐immunoreactivity (32%−37%). GABA and/or glycine occurred in one‐fifth to one‐third of these. These results show that amino acid‐immunoreactivity is present in almost all of the terminals that synapse on tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive dendrites in locus coeruleus. Glutamate provides a major excitatory input. The almost complete colocalization of glycine with GABA suggests that the inhibitory input to locus coeruleus is predominantly GABAergic with a contribution from glycine in about half of the GABAergic boutons.
Keratins as susceptibility genes for end-stage liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Keratins 8 and 18 protect the liver from stress. Keratin 8 and 18 variants in 17 of 467 liver disease explants and 2 of 349 blood bank controls were previously reported in 5 analyzed exonic regions. We asked whether mutations were present in the remaining 10 exons of keratins 8 and 18. METHODS Exonic regions were polymerase chain reaction-amplified from genomic DNA, isolated from the above-mentioned 2 cohorts, and analyzed for the presence of mutations. Mutant keratins were also studied biochemically. RESULTS We identified 10 novel keratin 8 and 18 heterozygous variants in 44 of 467 explants and 11 of 349 controls: keratin 18 deletion (delta64-71), a keratin 8 frameshift that truncates the last 14 amino acids; 8 missense keratin 8 and 18 alterations; and several new polymorphisms. The most common variant, keratin 8 R340H, at the highly conserved R340 was found in 30 of 467 explants and 10 of 349 controls (P = .02) and was confirmed in the diseased livers by generation of an R340H-specific antibody. Germline transmission and variant protein expression were verified. The mutations involved a variety of liver diseases, and some variants had an ethnic background preponderance. Mutations that introduced disulfide bonds (keratin 8 G61C or R453C) decreased keratin solubility, particularly after oxidative stress, whereas others decreased keratin 8 phosphorylation (keratin 8 G433S). CONCLUSIONS The overall frequency of keratin 8 and 18 variants was 12.4% in 467 liver disease explants and 3.7% in 349 blood bank controls (P < .0001). Variants can alter keratin solubility or phosphorylation and may render individuals susceptible to end-stage liver disease, depending on their genetic background and exposure to other insults, such as alcohol or viral infection.