Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Both basal and enhancer κB elements are required for full induction of the mouse inducible nitric oxide synthase gene

The transcriptional regulatory region of the mouse inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene has two KB elements, one enhancer-linked (KBII) and the other (KBI) proximal to its core promoter. Mutation of κBII substantially reduced the extent to which the iNOS promoter could be induced by LPS and interfered with augmented responsiveness of the promoter to LPS+IFN-γ. Mutation of KBI had a quantitatively less dramatic negative effect on LPS responsiveness and this construct still showed augmented responsiveness to LPS+IFN-γ. When both KB elements were mutated, inducibility by LPS and, in particular, by LPS+IFN-γ was paradoxically restored, compared with the mutated KBII alone, suggesting cooperative interactions among the transcription factors that trans-activate the iNOS gene. In vivo footprint analysis showed that both KB elements were bound by protein complexes when macrophages were stimulated with LPS ± IFN-γ. Furthermore, KBI was bound even in untreated cells, suggesting that KB binding proteins might also have a negative influence on expression of the gene. Both KBI and KBII were bound by NF-KB/Rel proteins found in nuclear extracts prepared from macrophages treated with LPS ± IFN-γ, although the specificity of binding to each element was different. Our results show that, while NF-KB/Rel proteins are required for maximal expression of the iNOS gene, alone they are not alone sufficient. Furthermore, the results reported here show that the augmentative effect of IFN-γ on the LPS-induced expression of the iNOS gene is not mediated through increased activation of NF-KB/Rel.
Phosphorylation of Caveolin‐1 Tyrosine 14 Leads to Caveolar Coat Destablilzation, Membrane Invagination and Endocytosis

Caveolin 1 (Cav‐1) is a cholesterol‐binding membrane‐associated protein required for caveolae formation and transcytosis of macromolecules through the endothelial barrier. Studies from our lab showed that activation of Src via albumin‐binding protein gp60, Gβγ or NO leads to phosphorylation of Cav‐1 tyrosine 14 and an increase in Cav‐1‐mediated endocytosis. Here we show that Y14‐Cav‐1 phosphorylation leads to destabilization of high molecular weight (HMW) Cav‐1 oligomers. Using cell fractionation we see a decrease in HMW Cav‐1 (> 250 kD) and a corresponding increase in phosphorylated Cav‐1 monomers (~ 25 kD) in cells stimulated with albumin or NO. A similar decrease was observed in cells with phospho‐mimicking (Y14D), and abolished in cells with phospho‐defective (Y14F) mutants of Cav‐1. Also Y14D‐Cav‐1‐GFP positive vesicles tracked by TIRF and spinning‐disc confocal microscopy were greater in number, velocity and volume when compared to Y14F. When wt Cav‐1‐CFP‐ and ‐YFP were co‐transfected in HEK cells, FRET was detected indicative of their close proximity within caveolar coat. Upon stimulation of caveolae‐mediated endocytosis with albumin or NO, FRET signal associated with wt Cav‐1 rapidly and transiently decreased (~1‐3 min) whereas Y14F‐Cav‐1‐FRET was unaffected. We hypothesize that Src‐dependent phosphorylation of Cav‐1 tyrosine 14 promotes the destabilization of Cav‐1 oligomers due to repulsion of neighboring, negatively charged N‐terminal p‐Y14 residues and this promotes membrane invagination and endocytosis. Support NIH grants T32 HL07239, P01 HL60678 and R01 HL71626
Isolation and characterization of serum immunoglobulins from kalbasu (Labeo calbasu) (Hamilton, 1822).

The Ig (Ig) from the serum of kalbasu (Labeo calbasu, Cyprinidae) was isolated and characterized during the present investigation. Kalbasu of 500-800 g size were immunized with Bovine Berum Albumin (BSA) to prepare immune sera. The Ig was isolated from the immune sera by an immunoaffinity column of BSA-Sepharose 4B. The purity and homogeneity of the isolated sample were confirmed by observing a single band in native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This also indicated the presence of only single type of Ig in kalbasu. The molecular weight of native Ig molecule was determined from the gel to be ~857 kDa. In Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (E), the constituent heavy (H) and light (L) polypeptide chains of the Ig molecules were identified. There were only one type of H chain with a molecular weight of ~78 kDa and two types of L chain with molecular weights of ~27 kDa and ~26 kDa. The antiserum against the kalbasu Ig was raised in a rabbit and adsorbed with 10% kalbasu liver tissue homogenate in order to enhance its specificity. By an indirect ELISA standardized using this adsorbed rabbit antiserum, the normal serum Ig concentration in kalbasu was estimated to be ~2.82 mg.ml-1 (n=22), which is around 8% of the total serum proteins.
Temperature impacts human epidermal stem cell behaviour through thermoTRPs and mTOR signalling

Keywords: human epidermal stem cell ; TRP channels ; mTOR signalling ; temperature ; epidermis ; stem cell niche These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 5766 (2013)Programme doctoral Biotechnologie et Genie biologiqueFaculte des sciences de la vieInstitut interfacultaire de Bioingenierie (SV)Laboratoire de dynamique des cellules souchesJury: N. Stergiopulos (president), C. Blanpain, Ph. Jones, M. Lutolf Public defense: 2013-6-14 Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-5766Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2013-06-05, modified on 2017-05-12
Study on variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis in Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense L.)

Fifty genotypes of Sudan grass were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications to estimate variability, correlation and path analysis. High heritability estimates were observed for all the characters studied, except L: S ratio. High estimates of heritability (b.s) accompanied by high genetic advance as percentage of means was reported for characters viz., days to 50% flowering, green forage yield, dry matter yield, plant height, crude protein yield, number of tillers, stem thickness, leaf width, crude protein content and leaf length. Correlations studies showed that green forage yield was significantly and positively associated with plant height, number of tillers, leaf length, stem thickness, dry matter yield and crude protein yield. Path analysis revealed that leaf width exhibited highest positive direct effect on green forage yield as well as it showed significant and positive correlation with green forage yield. Stem thickness showed highest negative direct effects on green forage yield which was followed by leaf: stem ratio, plant height, leaf length, crude protein content and dry matter yield. The pair of genotypes viz., IS-700 and cofs-29 (D= 1523.39) was most divergent from one another and genotypes like, IS-3236, IS-3284, IS-700 and cofs-29 for improvement in green forage yield of Sudan grass.
ARTEMIS AND METNASE MEDIATED PROCESSING OF 3΄-BLOCKED DNA LESIONS: ROLE IN RADIO/CHEMORESISTANCE AND DNA REPAIR

ARTEMIS AND METNASE MEDIATED PROCESSING OF 3 ́-BLOCKED DNA LESIONS: ROLE IN RADIO/CHEMORESISTANCE AND DNA REPAIR By Susovan Mohapatra, B.Pharm. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Advisor: Lawrence F. Povirk, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) with chemically modified end-termini are the most significant lesions resulting from radio/chemotherapeutic intervention of cancer and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) factor Artemis nuclease has been implicated in the repair of such breaks. To examine whether the resolution of terminally blocked DNA DSBs is the biologically relevant function of Artemis, Artemis deficient fibroblasts were stably complemented with wild type or an endonuclease deficient D165N mutant Artemis. Physiological levels of wild type (WT) Artemis completely restored DSB repair proficiency and resistance to γ-radiation, bleomycin, and neocarzinostatin. Cells expressing the D165N mutants remained as chemo/radiosensitive and as repair deficient as parental cells, with persistent γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci that increased in size 6-18 hour post irradiation. These persistent foci co-localized with DNA double strand break repair factor Mre11 and also with promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML). Further, in vitro studies have revealed that DNA-PK dependent Artemis
The Influence of Social Media on Charitable Fundraising

Charities increasingly utilize social media tools in fundraising. This research studies three mechanisms by which Facebook “likes” affect charitable behavior: (1) signaling, (2) commitment escalation, and (3) social contagion. The first study manipulates the number of Facebook likes on a page and finds support for a signaling effect of the aggregate Facebook likes on charitable intent. The second study manipulates whether the visitor clicks a Facebook like or not. Results show that the act of “liking” a fundraising page in and of itself escalates one’s charitable intent. An auction field study sells artwork created by under-privileged youth, and utilizes Facebook and Facebook likes to disseminate word of mouth about these auctions. Results show that social media increases willingness to pay (WTP) in charity auctions. The number of Facebook likes has a direct signaling effect and an indirect social contagion effect on WTP, as Facebook friends pass on information, through their likes. Consistent with the commitment escalation hypothesis, clicking a Facebook like has a direct effect on WTP.
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIALIZED CIRCUIT TRAINING FOR KARATE COMPETITORS

Successful performance in the Kumite discipline of Karate-do requires well developed aerobic and anaerobic cell-systems for supplying energy. Therefore, more and more often over the recent years, the preparation of martial arts athletes has included intensive interval training sessions following the Tabata method. The objective of this survey was to create a highly-intensive Tabata-based circuit training that is suitable for the functional preparation of Karate competitors and for defining the physiological and the biochemical characteristics of the training load through measuring the heart rate and the concentration of lactate in the peripheral blood. A group of six Karate practitioners, all Kumite competitors, took part in the survey. They performed tree times 10 exercises with Karate-technique elements following the classical Tabata scheme of 20 seconds work with a maximum number of repetitions and 10 seconds of break. The results proved that; 1) The heart rate increased after each circuit and exceeded 180 bpm, and in the break time it went down to 120-140 bpm; 2) The lactate concentration in the blood rose progressively after the first two circuits, and after finishing the last circle an overall decrease was registered regarding this indicator (9.3 ± 3.32 vs 13.4 ± 2.39 vs 11.8 ±1.63 mmol/L, respectively). In conclusion, the intensity of the latter circuit training model is very high because the levels of blood lactate after performing each circuit of the training were higher than the respective concentrations after Kumite competition matches at the same heart rates.
The Potential Use of Sugarcane Varieties for the Identification of Genetic Markers

The use of genetic markers that are linked to specific traits in sugarcane has the potential to increase the efficiency of the selection of improved varieties. Conventionally, markers are identified by arJalysing the segregation of potential markers and traits in the progeny of single crosses. However , this approach is not practical for sugarcane breeding programmes where replicated, well characterized progenies do not exist. The objective of this project was to investigate the potential of using commercial varieties for identifying markers associated with some of the important traits in sugarcane. This approach would be far more effective than dealing with single progenies since the traits of commercial varieties have already been
Visual evoked potentials to light flashes in captive rhesus monkeys: a study reflecting cerebral cortical activity and brain maturation.

Received: Revised: Accepted: September 27, 2012 May 16, 2013 June 16, 2013 Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are useful electrophysiological diagnostic tools for evaluating retinal response of the visual cortex and detecting its functional integrity in humans and animals. To analyze the VEPs and physiologic response of the visual pathway of a random population of captive-bred monkeys of the Macaca mulatta species throughout different physiologic stages after stimulation with stroboscopic light flashes. In this study we used 20 non-human primates (M. mulatta), 10 males and 10 females, divided into five age-dependant cohorts of 2 males and 2 females. Two replicable negative waveforms and one positive were recorded, as reliable indicators of electrical conductivity at specific anatomical nuclei of the visual pathways. Statistically significant differences were primarily observed in group 1 when compared against the remaining groups for the three evaluated waveforms. Waveform morphology characteristically presented steady deviations related to ontogenetic development of the studied population. ©2013 PVJ. All rights reserved
Approches bio-informatiques appliquées aux technologies émergentes en génomique

Genetic studies, such as linkage and association studies, have contributed greatly to a better understanding of the etiology of several diseases. Nonetheless, despite the tens of thousands of genetic studies performed to date, a large part of the heritability of diseases and traits remains unexplained. The last decade experienced unprecedented progress in genomics. For example, the use of microarrays for high-density comparative genomic hybridization has demonstrated the existence of large-scale copy number variations and polymorphisms. These are now detectable using DNA microarray or high-throughput sequencing. In addition, high-throughput sequencing has shown that the majority of variations in the exome are rare or unique to the individual. This has led to the design of a new type of DNA microarray that is enriched for rare variants that can be quickly and inexpensively genotyped in high throughput capacity. In this context, the general objective of this thesis is the development of methodological approaches and bioinformatics tools for the detection at the highest quality standards of copy number polymorphisms and rare single nucleotide variations. It is expected that by doing so, more of the missing heritability of complex traits can then be accounted for, contributing to the advancement of knowledge of the etiology of diseases. We have developed an algorithm for the partition of copy number polymorphisms, making it feasible to use these structural changes in genetic linkage studies with family data. We have also conducted an extensive study in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics of the University of Oxford to characterize rare copy number definition metrics and their impact on study results with unrelated individuals. We have conducted a thorough comparison of the performance of genotyping algorithms when used with a new DNA microarray composed of a majority of very rare genetic variants. Finally, we have developed a bioinformatics tool for the fast and efficient
Dependence of the 8-plate position inhemiepiphysiodesis on the X-ray parameters of the epimetaphyseal bone junction

Introduction. To correct axial deformities in children at the knee joint level, the method of “guided growth” using the 8-plate is applied. Despite the widespread use of this method, the toolkit for its implementation was developed mainly for patients with idiopathic deformities and does not take into account the features of the epimetaphyseal bone junction in children with skeletal dysplasias. Aim. To develop X-ray criteria that characterize anatomical features of the epimetaphyseal region of the bone to predict possible difficulties associated with the position of the metal structure in hemiepiphysiodesis. Materials and methods. We developed calculations of the X-ray parameters of the epimetaphyseal junction of the bone (angle of the epimetaphyseal junction and index of the epimetaphyseal junction) in 58 patients (107 lower limbs) with axial deformities in the frontal plane at the knee level in skeletal dysplasias (main group). The control group included 50 children (67 lower limbs) with identical deformities but without a primary lesion of the growth plate in which similar calculations of the X-ray parameters were performed. In stage I of the study, all patients were admitted to the Department of the Turner Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics for temporary hemiepiphysiodesis using the 8-plate to correct axial deformities of the lower extremities at the knee joint level. In stage 2, the metal structure position was evaluated after the operative treatment that adhered the plate to the bone metaphysis. A total of 255 plates were fixed: the hemiepiphysiodesis of the femur was performed in 138 cases and of the tibia in 117. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 software. Results. Among the patients who underwent surgical interventions using the method of guided growth, incomplete adherence of the plate to the bone was observed in 43 (17.3%) of 255 fixed plates because of the anatomical features of the epimetaphyseal region and more often in patients with skeletal dysplasias. Conclusion. We developed X-ray criteria for the angle of the epimetaphyseal junction and the index of the epimetaphyseal junction that are recommended for prediction of the position of metal structures.
Extension of Littlewood's rule to the multi-period static revenue management model with standby customers

Classical Littlewood's rule (1972) for the two-period static revenue management of a single perishable resource is extended to a generic \begin{document}$ T $\end{document} -period model with monotonically increasing fixed fares, ending with standby customers with a special fare. The expected revenue in the entire period is expressed explicitly in terms of multiple definite integrals involving the distribution function of the demand in each period. The exact optimal protection level in each period is calculated successively, resulting in the maximized total expected revenue. The Brumelle-McGill's theorem for the optimal booking limits in the \begin{document}$ T $\end{document} -period model is also extended to a similar model with standby customers. We show some numerical examples with comments on the effects of accepting standby customers on the optimal booking limits and the increase in the expected revenue.
Estimation indirecte de la puissance aérobie maximale d'une population bruxelloise masculine et féminine âgée de 6 à 23 ans. Comparaison avec une technique directe de la mesure de la consommation maximale d'oxygène

: Validation of the maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test with 1 min steps has been compared with a stepwise load increase on a bicycle ergometer among 201 male and female subjects ranging from 14 to 30 years. A slight underestimation of VO2 max (5.2%) amounting to 2.71 ml . min-1 . kg-1 was observed for the multistage shuttle test as compared to the bicycle test (r = 0.72). The analysis of the biological values collected after exercise does not show major differences between the two tests (plasma lactate, urinary total protein and albumin, creatinine). The renal handling of plasma proteins appears to be equally disturbed under the influence of exhaustive exercise. Maximal aerobic power regularly increases with age in both sexes, being more pronounced however for boys (1.16 to 3.37 l . min-1) than for girls (1.17 to 2.43 l . min-1) from 6 to 20 years old. Boys nearly sustain 50 ml . min-1 . kg-1 throughout childhood. On the contrary, from 8 years on girls progressively reduce their VO2 max down to 37.1 ml . min-1 . kg-1 at the age of 19. The decrease is more pronounced during the 11-16 years period. The present results constitute tentative norms on 1,025 brussels male and female subjects ranging from 6 to 23 years.
Sensory Integration of Apparent Motion Speed and Vibration Magnitude

Tactile apparent motion can display directional information in an intuitive way. It can, for example, be used to give directions to visually impaired individuals, or for waypoint navigation while cycling on busy streets, when vision or audition should not be loaded further. However, although humans can detect very short tactile patterns, discriminating between similar motion speeds has been shown to be difficult. Here, we develop and investigate a method where the speed of tactile apparent motion around the user's wrist is coupled with vibration magnitude. This redundant coupling is used to produce tactile patterns from slow & weak to fast & strong. We compared the just noticeable difference (JND) of the coupled and the individual variables. The results show that the perception of the coupled variable can be characterized by JND smaller than JNDs of the individual variables. This allowed us to create short tactile pattens (tactons) for display of direction and speed, which can be distinguished significantly better than tactons based on motion alone. Additionally, most subjects were also able to identify the coupled-variable tactons better than the magnitude-based tactons.