Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Influence of glucagon-like peptide-2 on intestinal lymphocyte homing in mice with acute pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) on intestinal lymphocyte homing receptor-integrin alpha 4 beta 7 and homing ligand-intestinal mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) in mice with acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS A total of 96 mice were divided into three groups randomly (n=32 in each group): AP group, GLP-2 group and control group. Murine AP model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). GLP-2 (250 microg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at 15 minutes after the establishment of model, then it was injected twice a day for 3 days in GLP-2 group, while the mice in control group received normal saline instead. Mice were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after reproduction of AP, and tissue specimens were harvested. Integrin alpha 4 beta 7 positive peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of MAdCAM-1 in the terminal ileum mucosa and Peyer patch was measured by immunohistochemistry. Same observations were also done in the control and GLP-2 groups. RESULTS Compared with control group, integrin alpha 4 beta 7 positive lymphocyte in peripheral blood and the expression of MAdCAM-1 in the terminal ileum mucosa and Peyer patch were significantly reduced at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours in AP mice (all P<0.05). Integrin alpha 4 beta 7 positive lymphocyte and the expression of MAdCAM-1 were markedly higher in GLP-2 group than those in AP group (all P<0.05), but were lower in GLP-2 group than those in control group (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION Administration of GLP-2 may restore expression of integrin alpha 4 beta 7 and MAdCAM-1, promote lymphocyte homing to intestine, thus improve the immunological function of intestine.
Optimal Control and Operation of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Production Units for Voltage Support in Medium-Voltage Networks

The strong increase in the number of installed photovoltaic (PV) production plants has slowly changed the assets and the operating conditions of the electricity power system. In this context, the supply and control of the reactive power from the renewable generation plants are becoming an important issue to be exploited that can facilitate the integration of PV and wind power in electricity grids. The aim of this paper is to propose an optimized control strategy to manage the reactive power resource generated by PV plants in order to improve the quality of the low/medium voltage distribution network and meet the latest technical requirements listed by distribution system operators in their grid codes. A methodology to define the optimal reactive power references for each PV unit connected to a generic distribution network is presented for a specified goal (e.g., the achievement of suitable voltage levels at the grid nodes). Such reference signals are then provided to the PV plants regulation systems, which are designed in order to guarantee the decoupling between the active and reactive power channels, due to the use of the Feedback Linearization control technique. The problem is formulated in a generalized way, so that it can be extended to any possible grid configuration.
A Unifying Mechanism in the Initiation of Cancer and Other Diseases by Catechol Quinones

Abstract: The first step in cancer initiation is the reaction of chemical carcinogens with DNA to form stable adducts, which remain in DNA unless removed by repair, and depurinating adducts, which detach from DNA following destabilization of the glycosyl bond. Depurinating DNA adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons play a major role in the initiation of cancer, as shown by the correlation between depurinating adducts and oncogenic mutations of the H‐ras oncogene in mouse skin. Following these results, experiments on the metabolism of estrogens, formation of depurinating DNA adducts, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and cellular transformation have led us to the hypothesis that certain metabolites of endogenous estrogens—in particular, estradiol(estrone)‐3,4‐quinones—can react with DNA to form depurinating adducts at the N‐3 of Ade and the N‐7 of Gua. Depurination of these adducts can generate critical mutations by error‐prone repair to initiate breast, prostate, and other cancers. The oxidation mechanism of catechols to quinone compounds includes not only natural estrogens, but also synthetic estrogens, such as hexestrol and the human carcinogen diethylstilbestrol, which react with DNA to form N3Ade and N7Gua adducts, presumably to initiate cancer. Furthermore, the initiating mechanism of the leukemogen benzene involves oxidation of catechol to catechol quinone, which reacts with DNA to form N3Ade and N7Gua adducts. The quinone of the neurotransmitter dopamine can also react with DNA to form N3Ade and N7Gua adducts. The subsequent mutations could be at the origin of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. In summary, the apurinic sites produced in DNA from the loss of these depurinating adducts can be converted into mutations by error‐prone repair, which may initiate cancer and other diseases.
The Moderating Effect of National Culture on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Strategic Alliance Portfolio Extensiveness

This study examines the influence that national culture has on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance formation. Using a sample of small- to medium-sized enterprises located in Finland, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden, we find that firms with higher levels of entrepreneurial orientation will use strategic alliances more extensively (i.e., use a greater number of agreements) than those firms with a weaker entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, this relationship is strengthened in those countries that demonstrate either feminine or collective characteristics.
The Vi Capsular Polysaccharide Prevents Complement Receptor 3-Mediated Clearance of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi

ABSTRACT Capsular polysaccharides are important virulence factors of invasive bacterial pathogens. Here we studied the role of the virulence (Vi) capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) in preventing innate immune recognition by complement. Comparison of capsulated S. Typhi with a noncapsulated mutant (ΔtviBCDE vexABCDE mutant) revealed that the Vi capsule interfered with complement component 3 (C3) deposition. Decreased complement fixation resulted in reduced bacterial binding to complement receptor 3 (CR3) on the surface of murine macrophages in vitro and decreased CR3-dependent clearance of Vi capsulated S. Typhi from the livers and spleens of mice. Opsonization of bacteria with immune serum prior to intraperitoneal infection increased clearance of capsulated S. Typhi from the liver. Our data suggest that the Vi capsule prevents CR3-dependent clearance, which can be overcome in part by a specific antibody response.
Demonstration of interstitial cerebral edema with diffusion tensor MR imaging in type C hepatic encephalopathy

Brain water may increase in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in patients with cirrhosis with or without HE to quantify the changes in brain water diffusivity and to correlate it with neuropsychological (NP) tests. Thirty‐nine patients with cirrhosis, with minimal (MHE) or overt HE, were studied and compared to 18 controls. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated in corpus callosum, internal capsule, deep gray matter nuclei, periventricular frontal, and occipital white matter regions in both cerebral hemispheres. The MD and FA values from different regions in different groups were compared using analysis of variance and Spearman's rank correlation test. In 10 patients with MHE, repeat studies were performed after 3 weeks of lactulose therapy to look for any change in MD, FA, and NP scores. Significantly increased MD was found with insignificant changes in FA in various regions of brain in patients with MHE or HE compared with controls, indicating an increase in interstitial water in the brain parenchyma without any microstructural changes. A significant correlation was found between MD values from corpus callosum, internal capsule, and NP test scores. After therapy, MD values decreased significantly and there was a corresponding improvement in NP test scores. Further analysis showed that MD values were different for different grades of minimal or overt HE. In conclusion, the increase in MD with no concomitant changes in FA in cirrhosis with minimal or early HE indicates the presence of reversible interstitial brain edema. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:698–706.)
Current Status and Perspectives in Stem Cell Therapy for Heart.

UNLABELLED For most patients, the prognosis of heart failure remains poor despite therapeutic advancement in recent decades. The option of cardiac transplantation is high risk and limited by a shortage of donors. Traditionally, the heart had been considered a terminally differentiated organ incapable of regeneration. However, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have been performed since the first report of cell therapy in heart failure using skeletal myoblasts in 2001. These investigations looked at the promising potential and use of several kinds of stem cells, which could some day dramatically alter the understanding of the regenerative capacity of the heart. To date, although there is no existing cardiac cell therapy that has been conclusively reported to be effective, stem cell-related cardiomyocyte regeneration strategies have become significant areas of research in modern cardiovascular medicine. In this review, we outline a variety of common cell sources, surface biomarkers of stem cells, and provide information related to cardiac cell therapy clinical trials. KEY WORDS Clinical trial; Stem cell.
Interleukin-15 Induces Rapid Tyrosine Phosphorylation of STAT6 and the Expression of Interleukin-4 in Mouse Mast Cells*

Interleukin (IL)-4 plays an important role in the differentiation of naive T helper (Th) cells into Th2. Mast cells can produce a significant amount of IL-4 and have been proposed to play a major role in the induction of Th2 responses. Recently, it has been reported that mast cells have a distinct IL-15 receptor system different from that of T or natural killer cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that IL-15 induced IL-4 production from a mouse mast cell line, MC/9, and bone marrow-derived mast cells. IL-4 mRNA expression was increased by IL-15, suggesting that IL-15 promotes IL-4 expression at the transcriptional level. In these mast cells, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 were rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to IL-15. In MC/9 cells, the expression of a C-terminally truncated dominant negative form of STAT6 significantly suppressed the IL-4 mRNA up-regulation by IL-15, suggesting that STAT6 activation is essential for the IL-15-mediated IL-4 production. Additionally, tyrosine phosphorylation of Tyk2 was rapidly increased by IL-15 treatment in this cell line. Altogether, our results suggest that IL-15 plays an important role in stimulating early IL-4 production in mast cells that may be responsible for the initiation of Th2 response.
The Effect of Concurrent Feedback in Reducing Inappropriate Hospital Utilization

This study, conducted in four general hospitals, evaluates the effectiveness of feedback from utilization review coordinators in reducing the number of inappropriate hospital days. Experimental control was exerted over the type of feedback provided in the utilization review process to produce four treatment groups (including a control group) that vary according to 1) the channel used to inform an attending physician of a probable inappropriately located patient and 2) the amount of discretion permitted the nurse coordinator in deciding whether, when and to whom this information is provided. The results of the study indicate that physician and hospital performance in utilization review, measured both by inappropriate patient days and length of stay, are affected by the feedback strategy employed. For patients inappropriately located for a portion of their hospital stay, provision of concurrent feedback resulted in reduction of approximately two thirds of an inappropriate day and two and one half total days, compared with patients for whom no feedback was provided or for whom physician advisor involvement was required. In addition, the effect of reasons causing patients to be inappropriately located (barriers) was assessed. Barriers outside the realm of influence of the hospital or the physician were found to impede the effectiveness of the utilization review systems.
An Empirical Analysis of Firms' Product Line Decisions

Despite the importance of product line management as a competitive tool, empirical research addressing the determinants of firm product line decisions is sparse. In this article, the authors propose and empirically estimate a descriptive model of firm product line decisions in the personal computer industry over the period 1981-92. The model incorporates the firm's initial choice of the direction of a product line change (i.e., the product line can be expanded, contracted, or maintained) and the conditional choice related to the magnitude of any product line change (i.e., how many products to introduce or withdraw). The authors show that there are important substantive insights to be gained by analyzing the product line decision in this fashion. In the personal computer industry, for example, firms expand their product lines when industry barriers are low or market opportunities are perceived to exist. High market share firms aggressively expand their product lines, as do firms with relatively high prices or short product lines. In general, the results highlight the various internal and external factors that influence firms' management of their product lines.
Emerging drugs for the treatment of symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders

Importance of the field: Autism spectrum disorders, or pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), are neurodevelopmental disorders defined by qualitative impairment in social interaction, impaired communication and stereotyped patterns of behavior. The most common forms of PDD are autistic disorder (autism), Asperger's disorder and PDD not otherwise specified. Recent surveillance studies reveal an increase in the prevalence of autism and related PDDs. The use of pharmacologic agents in the treatment of these disorders can reduce the impact of interfering symptoms, providing relief for affected individuals and their families. Areas covered in this review: This review examines results from neurobiologic research in an attempt to both elucidate the pathophysiology of autism and guide the development of pharmacologic agents for the treatment of associated symptoms. The safety and efficacy data of drugs currently in clinical use for the treatment of these symptoms, as well as pharmaceuticals currently under development, are discussed. What the reader will gain: This comprehensive review will deepen the reader's current understanding of the research guiding the pharmacologic treatment of symptoms associated with autism and related PDDs. Areas of focus for future research are also discussed. The need for large-scale investigation of some commonly used pharmacologic agents, in addition to the development of drugs with improved efficacy and safety profiles, is made evident. Take home message: Despite progress in the development of pharmacologic treatments for a number of interfering symptom domains associated with autism and other PDDs, a great deal of work remains.
Epidermal Cell Death in Rice Is Confined to Cells with a Distinct Molecular Identity and Is Mediated by Ethylene and H2O2 through an Autoamplified Signal Pathway[W]

Rice (Oryza sativa) forms adventitious root primordia at stem nodes during normal development. Root emergence is preceded by ethylene-induced, H2O2-mediated local death of epidermal cells. Exogenous H2O2 or enhancement of endogenous H2O2 promoted epidermal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase lowered ethylene-induced cell death rates. Inhibition of ethylene perception by 1-methylcyclopropene did not abolish H2O2-induced cell death, indicating that H2O2 acts downstream of ethylene. Microarray studies of epidermal cells that undergo cell death identified 61 genes coregulated by the ethylene-releasing compound ethephon and by H2O2, supporting a joint signaling pathway. Regulation of the ethylene biosynthetic genes 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase1 and Ethylene Overproducer-Like1 and downregulation of Metallothionein2b (MT2b), which encodes a reactive oxygen scavenger, indicated mutual enhancement of ethylene and H2O2 signaling. Analysis of MT2b knockdown mutants showed that cell death rates were inversely related to MT2b transcript abundance. Epidermal cells above adventitious roots have a morphological and molecular identity distinct from other epidermal cells. Pro-death signals regulated several transcription factor genes with a proposed function in cell type specification. It is hypothesized that induction of cell death is dependent on epidermal cell identity.
Androgen Receptor Silences Thioredoxin‐interacting Protein and Competitively Inhibits Glucocorticoid Receptor‐Mediated Apoptosis in Pancreatic β‐Cells

Androgen receptor (AR) is known to bind to the same cis‐element that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binds to. However, the effects of androgen signaling on glucocorticoid signaling have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of testosterone on dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic glucocorticoid)‐induced apoptosis of pancreatic β‐cells, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in males. We used INS‐1 #6 cells, which were isolated from the INS‐1 pancreatic β‐cell line and which express high levels of AR. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone inhibited apoptosis induced by DEX in INS‐1 #6 cells. AR knockdown and the AR antagonist hydroxyflutamide each diminished the anti‐apoptotic effects of testosterone. AR was localized in the nucleus of both INS‐1 #6 cells and pancreatic β‐cells of male rats. Induction of thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP) is known to cause pro‐apoptotic effects in β‐cells. Testosterone suppressed the DEX‐induced increase of TXNIP at the transcriptional level. A Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that both AR and GR competitively bound to the TXNIP promoter in ligand‐dependent manners. Recombinant DNA‐binding domain of AR bound to the same cis‐element of the TXNIP promoter that GR binds to. Our results show that AR and GR competitively bind to the same cis‐element of TXNIP promoter as a silencer and enhancer, respectively. These results indicate that androgen signaling functionally competes with glucocorticoid signaling in pancreatic β‐cell apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 998–1006, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First Genome Data from Uncultured Upland Soil Cluster Alpha Methanotrophs Provide Further Evidence for a Close Phylogenetic Relationship to Methylocapsa acidiphila B2 and for High-Affinity Methanotrophy Involving Particulate Methane Monooxygenase

ABSTRACT Members of upland soil cluster alpha (USCα) are assumed to be methanotrophic bacteria (MB) adapted to the trace level of atmospheric methane. So far, these MB have eluded all cultivation attempts. While the 16S rRNA phylogeny of USCα members is still not known, phylogenies constructed for the active-site polypeptide (encoded by pmoA) of particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) placed USCα next to the alphaproteobacterial Methylocapsa acidiphila B2. To assess whether the pmoA tree reflects the evolutionary identity of USCα, a 42-kb genomic contig of a USCα representative was obtained from acidic forest soil by screening a metagenomic fosmid library of 250,000 clones using pmoA-targeted PCR. For comparison, a 101-kb genomic contig from M. acidiphila was analyzed, including the pmo operon. The following three lines of evidence confirmed a close phylogenetic relationship between USCα and M. acidiphila: (i) tetranucleotide frequency patterns of 5-kb genomic subfragments, (ii) annotation and comparative analysis of the genomic fragments against all completely sequenced genomes available in public domain databases, and (iii) three single gene phylogenies constructed using the deduced amino acid sequences of a putative prephenate dehydratase, a staphylococcal-like nuclease, and a putative zinc metalloprotease. A comparative analysis of the pmo operons of USCα and M. acidiphila corroborated previous reports that both the pmo operon structure and the predicted secondary structure of deduced pMMO are highly conserved among all MB.
Evidence for Anterior Cingulate Cortex Involvement in Monitoring Preparatory Attentional Set

An important cognitive function underlying unified, voluntary behavior is attentional control. Two frontal regions, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), appear to be particularly involved in attentional control and monitoring. In this study, we investigated whether ACC is involved in monitoring the preparatory allocation of attention during task switching, or whether ACC is active only when subjects are processing target stimuli and selecting a response, via a cued-attention design. Event-related BOLD fMRI activity was examined using a cue-target paradigm in which subjects performed task switches that selectively required reallocation of attention when tasks changed. There were three cue conditions: informative switch, informative repeat, and neutral. There were four target conditions: informatively cued switch, informatively cued repeat, neutrally cued switch, and neutrally cued repeat. Significant ACC activity was observed following both informative switch and informative repeat cues, but not after neutral cues. No significant ACC activity was observed following any of the target conditions. Significant DLPFC activity was observed following all three cue conditions and following neutrally cued switch targets. Overall, our results suggest that ACC is involved in monitoring the preparatory allocation of attention for conflict at the level of activation of competing attentional sets. The results also support the role of DLPFC in holding cognitive goals in working memory and allocating attention to the appropriate processing systems to meet those goals.
Use of post‐thaw semen quality parameters to predict fertility of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull during peak breeding season

This study was designed to predict the fertility of water buffalo bull using post‐thaw semen quality parameters during peak breeding season. Thirty ejaculates were collected from five bulls with artificial vagina and cryopreserved. At post‐thaw, semen was analysed for motility parameters, velocity distribution, kinematics, DNA integrity/fragmentation, viability, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, morphology, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity. Data of 514 inseminations were collected for estimation of in vivo fertility. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed that progressive motility (PM), rapid velocity, average path velocity, straight line velocity, straightness, supravital plasma membrane integrity, viable spermatozoon with intact acrosome or with high mitochondrial activity were correlated with in vivo fertility (r = .81, p < .01; r = .85, p < .01; r = .64, p < .05; r = .73, p < .05; r = .57, p < .05; r = .88, p < .01; r = .84, p < .01 and r = .81, p < .01 respectively). Step forward multiple regression analysis showed that the best single predictor of fertility was PM. However, combinations of semen quality parameters to predict fertility were better as compared to single parameter. In conclusion, fertility of buffalo bull can be predicted through some of the post‐thaw in vitro semen quality tests during peak breeding season.