Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of cytokine release from mononuclear cells by prostacyclin, IL-4 and IL-13.

In a previous study, we reported that cicaprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue can inhibit the release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from activated human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). Since interleukin (IL-4) and IL-13 have been shown to inhibit the release of cytokines from PBMCs we tested the hypothesis that prostacyclin in combination with IL-4 or IL-13 can act synergistically to modulate the release of IL-10, generally associated with anti-inflammatory properties, and the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). For this purpose, PBMCs were isolated over Ficoll, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and incubated in the presence of cicaprost, IL-4 or IL-13. There was a significant reduction in TNF-alpha as well as IL-10 secretion from LPS-stimulated PBMCs following incubation with IL-4 or IL-13. In contrast, cicaprost reduced the secretion of TNF-alpha but led to a slight enhancement of IL-10 release from PBMCs. When LPS-activated PBMCs were incubated in the presence of cicaprost and IL-4 or IL-13 there was a selective, synergistic inhibition of the TNF-alpha release which was not observed for IL-10. Thus, our data suggest that prostacyclin can synergize with cytokines to selectively inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from PBMCs.
Myostatin modulates adipogenesis to generate adipocytes with favorable metabolic effects

A pluripotent cell line, C3H10T1/2, is induced to undergo adipogenesis by a mixture of factors that includes a glucocorticoid such as dexamethasone. We found that expression of myostatin (MSTN), a TGF-β family member extensively studied in muscle, was induced by dexamethasone under those differentiation conditions. Moreover, MSTN could substitute for dexamethasone in the adipogenesis mixture. However, the adipocytes induced by MSTN in both cell culture and transgenic mice were small and expressed markers characteristic of immature adipocytes. These adipocytes exhibited cell-autonomous increases in insulin sensitivity and glucose oxidation. In mice, these effects produced elevated systemic insulin sensitivity and resistance to diet-induced obesity. Modulation of the final stages of adipogenesis may provide a novel approach to understanding and treating metabolic disease.
3D video communications: Challenges and opportunities

This paper surveys major techniques in 3D communications area, which covers the whole pipeline of the 3D video communication framework, including 3D content creation, data representation, compression, delivery, decompression, post‐processing, and 3D scene rendering stages. Both the current state‐of‐the‐art, stereo 3D, and future trend, free‐viewpoint 3D, are demonstrated in details. On the other hand, the paper highlights a few features in the emerging 4G wireless systems that are critical for 3D communications system design. At the end, the topics with potential but challenges, for example 3D over 4G networks, distributed 3D video coding, 3D multi‐user communication, scalability and universal 3D access, are discussed and pointed out to audiences for further investigation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outras temporalidades do consumo: moda artesanal

Parte-se do pressuposto que a sociedade contemporânea apresenta-se em estado de alta velocidade no acesso a informacao, na producao, e no consumo, porem, percebem-se alguns movimentos de refreamento desses aspectos. Acredita-se que o design de moda possa produzir novos agenciamentos na cultura atraves da utilizacao de tecnicas artesanais promovendo novos tempos de consumo. Palavras-chave: Consumo. Hipermodernidade. Design de Moda. Artesanal. Local.
LOS SENTIDOS DE LA COMUNICACIÓN EN LA APROPIACIÓN DE LAS TIC POR LAS ORGANIZACIONES DE TRABAJADORES DESOCUPADOS

Frente a la persistente y creciente desigualdad reinante en torno al acceso a las Tecnologias de Informacion y Comunicacion(TIC), las tacticas de apropiacion desarrolladas por los movimientos sociales mitigan -con gran fuerza en algunos casos ytimidamente en otros- las diferencias existentes. Concentrados en los modos de aproximacion de las Organizaciones deTrabajadores Desocupados argentinas a estos artefactos, estudiaremos como se imbrican sus practicas tecnologicas con laslogicas de la accion colectiva, el mundo del trabajo y la comunicacion en un contexto de agudos procesos de exclusion social.
Induced generalized uncertain linguistic correlated averaging operator and their application to multiple attribute decision making

We investigate the multiple attribute decision making problems for evaluating the service marketing management with uncertain linguistic information. Motivated by the ideal of induced Choquet ordered averaging operator Yager, R.R. , Induced aggregation operators, Fuzzy Sets and Systems 137 2003 59--69. and induced generalized OWA operator Merigo, J. M. and Gil-Lafuente, A. M, The induced generalized OWA operator, Information Sciences 1792009 729--741, in this paper, we have developed an induced generalized uncertain linguistic correlated averaging I-GULCA operator. The prominent characteristic of the operators is that they can not only consider the importance of the elements or their ordered positions, but also reflect the correlation among the elements or their ordered positions. We have applied the I-GULCA operator to multiple attribute decision making problems for evaluating the service marketing management with uncertain linguistic information. Finally an illustrative example for evaluating the service marketing management with uncertain linguistic information has been given to show the developed method.
Tenascin‐C regulates angiogenesis in tumor through the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression

In order to verify whether tenascin‐C (TN‐C) is involved in angiogenesis as an extracellular signal molecule during tumorigenesis, cancerous cell transplantation experiments and coculture experiments were carried out, focusing on the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The A375 human melanoma cells introduced the GFP gene (A375‐GFP), implanted subcutaneously into BALB/cA nude (WT) and TN‐C knockout BALB/cA nude (TNKO) congenic mice. Furthermore, coculture experiments between A375‐GFP and embryonic mesenchyme, which was prepared from both genotypes, were carried out to investigate the molecular mechanism in the cell‐cell interactions. Both the content of TN‐C and that of VEGF in the tumor and the conditioned medium were analyzed by the sandwich ELISA method. Seven days after transplantation of the A375‐GFP, capillary nets became far more abundant in the tumors grown in WT mice than those in TNKO mice. Interestingly, VEGF and TN‐C expressions showed antithetical expression patterns between the tumors in WT mice and those in TNKO mice. This peculiar phenomenon seems to be caused by a time lag prior to the onset of the mesenchymal regulation for the TN‐C expression of A375‐GFP. The coculture experiments revealed that WT mesenchyme had a much stronger effect than TNKO mesenchyme on both TN‐C and VEGF expression. However, the defects of TNKO mesenchyme were restored in all cases by additional TN‐C. These results clearly indicated that the expressions of both TN‐C and VEGF depend on the surrounding mesenchyme, and that the function of mesenchyme is regulated by its own mesenchymal TN‐C. In conclusion, the present data suggest that the matrix microenvironment organized by the host mesenchyme is very important for angiogenesis in tumor development. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atrial fibrillation associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism

Summary Whether atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains controversial. From Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000), we identified 11,458 patients newly diagnosed with AF. The comparison group comprised 45,637 patients without AF. Both cohorts were followed up to measure the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Univariable and multivariable competing-risks regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator were used to measure the differences of cumulative incidences of DVT and PE, respectively. The overall incidence rates (per 1,000 person-years) of DVT and PE between the AF group and non-AF groups were 2.69 vs 1.12 (crude hazard ratio [HR] = 1.92; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-2.39), 1.55 vs 0.46 (crude HR = 2.68; 95 % CI = 1.97-3.64), respectively. The baseline demographics indicated that the members of the AF group demonstrated a significantly older age and higher proportions of comorbidities than non-AF group. After adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, the risks of DVT and PE remained significantly elevated in the AF group compared with the non-AF group (adjusted HR = 1.74; 95 %CI = 1.36-2.24, adjusted HR = 2.18; 95 %CI = 1.51-3.15, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier curve with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator indicated that the cumulative incidences of DVT and PE were both more significantly elevated in the AF group than in the non-AF group after a long-term follow-up period (p<0.01). In conclusion, the presence of AF is associated with increased risk of VTE after a long-term follow-up period.
Energy nutritional requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two forage: concentrate ratios

The objective of this study was to determine the energy nutritional requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two levels of concentrate. Sixty heifers from three genetic groups were used: 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore × Angus and 20 Nellore × Simmental. Twelve belonged to the reference group (four of each genetic group) and were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment. Another 12 heifers (four of each genetic group) were fed on the maintenance level and 36 heifers (12 animals of each genetic group) were kept in feeding system ad libitum with 30 (six in each group) or 50% (six of each group) dry matter concentrate. Animals were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two diets) with six replicates per treatment. Nine more heifers were used in a parallel experiment to estimate the apparent digestibility coefficients (three from each genetic group). Net energy requirements were estimated by the equation of retained energy as a function of metabolic empty body weight (EBW0.75) and empty body weight gain (EBWg). Requirements of metabolizable and net energy were estimated for maintenance by the equation of heat production as a function of metabolizable energy intake. Using the combined equation RE (retained energy; Mcal/day) = 0.0703 × EBW.75 × EBWg1.128 to predict net energy requirements for weight gain is recommended. The requirement of metabolizable and net energy for maintenance of all groups is 70.55 and 106.53 kcal/kgEBW0.75/day, respectively. Use efficiencies of metabolizable energy for gain and maintenance are 36.41 and 66.23%, for the three genetic groups respectively.
Cadherin superfamily genes: functions, genomic organization, and neurologic diversity.

To answer the question of how the highly sophisticated functions of the central nervous system (CNS) are born, we need to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms that generate an enormous number of diversified neurons and their specific interactions. The complex and highly organized neural networks in the CNS ultimately generate brain function, including innate and acquired behavior. Interestingly, the CNS is in part similar to the immune system, both are produced as complex, diversified, and well-organized networks from limited genomic information. The immune system promotes the recognition of the enormous battery of foreign antigens through the random diversification of T-cell receptors (TCR) and B-cell receptors (BCR) of the immunoglobulin superfamily by germ line rearrangement and/or somatic mutation. Analogous regulatory processes are not known for the CNS. However, recent studies of the cadherin superfamily have provided valuable insights into the generation of diversified and organized networks in the CNS. A large number of cadherin superfamily genes have been identified to date, and most of them seem to be expressed in the CNS. In particular, primary cadherins (classic cadherins) were identified as synaptic components, and roles for them in neuronal circuitry, synaptic junction formation, and synaptic plasticity have been suggested (Suzuki et al. 1997; Tang et al. 1998; Honjo et al. 2000; Manabe et al. 2000; Tanaka et al. 2000). In addition, the expression of a novel cadherin, Arcadlin, was found to be up-regulated during activity-dependent synaptic plasticity (Yamagata et al. 1999). Moreover, a subfamily of the cadherin superfamily, CNR (cadherin-related neuronal receptor) proteins bound to tyrosine kinase Fyn, is localized in synaptic membrane (Kohmura et al. 1998). At least three protocadherin gene subfamilies including the CNRs are derived from an unusual genomic organization similar to that of BCR and TCR gene clusters (Wu and Maniatis 1999; Sugino et al. 2000). These findings have interesting implications regarding the molecular events underlying the establishment of complex and organized networks of neuronal connections in the CNS, which may provide further insight into the processes giving rise to diverged brain functions in various species and individuals, as well as the molecular basis of psychociatic diseases.
[Primary antiretroviral drug resistance among patients diagnosed with HIV infection in Gran Canaria (Spain) between 2002 and 2005].

BACKGROUND This study examines the prevalence of primary resistance to antiretroviral drugs in patients diagnosed with HIV infection during 2002 to 2005 and determines the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of this population. METHODS A prospective analysis of genotypic resistance was carried out in 125 patients by gene sequencing (88.0% diagnosed in 2002, 28.9% in 2003-2004, and 87.9% in 2005). Thirteen patients had a diagnosis of recent primary infection. RESULTS Sixteen patients (12.8%) carried viruses with at least one drug-resistance mutation; among them, 4 had recent infection (30.8%) and 12 chronic infection or infection of unknown duration (10.7%). Six patients (4.8%) presented at least one resistance mutation to nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 9 patients (7.2%) to non-nucleoside/ tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors inhibitors and 2 patients (1.6%) to protease inhibitors. One patient (0.8%) harbored a multidrug-resistant variant. The frequency of primary resistance was higher in patients with HIV subtype B (15.5%), in the homosexual/bisexual population (17.9%), and in patients diagnosed in 2005 (17.9%). Prevalence increased from 9.3% in 2002 to 16.3% in 2005 in chronically infected patients or those with unknown duration of the infection. CONCLUSIONS Primary resistance to antiretroviral drugs is high in both recent and chronic HIV infection and has increased in recent years. Genotype resistance testing in patients with a diagnosis of HIV infection is recommended before beginning antiretroviral therapy.
Semantic and cognitive development in 15- to 21-month-old children

ABSTRACT Recent studies suggest a specific relationship between the acquisition of the word ‘gone’ and the development of the object concept. A longitudinal study investigated whether there is a similar relationship between the acquisition of words that encode success and failure, such as no, uh-oh and there, and the development of means–ends skills. A cross-sectional study investigated both these relationships. The results suggest that children acquire the word gone after they solve simple invisible displacement tasks but before they solve serial invisible displacement tasks. They also show that children acquire success/failure words after they use insight to solve the problem of the string but before they use insight to solve more difficult means–ends problems. These sequences cannot be explained in terms of age, general cognitive development or general linguistic development. It is argued that gone encodes a concept related to the concepts that underlie success on invisible displacement tasks, and that success/failure words encode concepts related to the concepts that underlie the development of insight. Children seem to acquire words that encode concepts they have just developed or are in the process of developing. These results suggest that there are strong and specific links between the acquisition of particular types of meanings and particular cognitive achievements. Several alternative explanations for these early links between semantic and conceptual development are proposed.
Theory and Experiments of the Impact of Work-Function Variability on Threshold Voltage Variability in MOS Devices

A model for work-function variability (WFV) based on grain orientation differences of the polycrystalline metal gate is proposed, and the impact of the WFV on device and circuit performance is investigated. The model predicts that the WFV will surpass random dopant fluctuation beyond the 22-nm technology node and become the dominant factor to significantly increase static RAM failure probabilities. The prediction is verified through experimental characterization and analysis.
Potentiation of the time-dependent, antidepressant-induced changes in the agonistic behaviour of resident rats by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY-100635

Acute and chronic antidepressant drug treatments respectively decrease and increase the aggressive behaviour of resident rats during encounters with unfamiliar conspecifics. We have now examined the effect of the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor antagonist, WAY-100635, on fluoxetine-, paroxetine- or venlafaxine-induced changes in aggression. WAY-100635 (0.1 mg/kg), which did not modify behaviour when given alone, potentiated the venlafaxine (5.54 mg/kg)-induced reduction in aggression after acute treatment and, during chronic treatment, accelerated the fluoxetine (0.34 mg/kg/day)-induced increase in aggression, from day 5 to day 2. A similar change in time course was seen with paroxetine (0.33 mg/kg/day), although the increase in aggression was smaller. Venlafaxine (5.54 mg/kg/day, alone or co-administered with WAY-100635) increased aggression by day 2. During chronic treatment, therefore, venlafaxine, at the dose used, had a more rapid onset of action than either fluoxetine or paroxetine, whereas the fluoxetine- and paroxetine-, but not the venlafaxine-, induced increase in aggression was accelerated by WAY-100635. These studies further support the hypothesis that selective blockade of the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor augments the effects of antidepressant drugs in an animal model predictive of antidepressant activity, presumably by concomitant blockade of the somatodendritic 5-hydroxytryptamine1A autoreceptor-mediated negative feedback system of serotonergic neurones.
Research on the switching transients and disconnecting transients of shunt capacitors in grid-connected wind farms

This paper analyzes the causes for abnormal phenomena when switching and disconnecting shunt capacitors theoretically, also establishes an overall dynamic model for wind turbine set, including the wind-turbine and asynchronous induction generator. It constructs a model of wind farm that is connected with infinite system on the basis of dynamic model above. The numerical simulations are performed to evaluate switching and disconnecting transients of shunt capacitors during ramp wind speed. The paper focus on inrush currents and low transition voltage during switching as well as over-voltages during disconnecting caused by single phase or double phases connect again. The approaches to solve these problems are presented. The simulation conclusions are proved by the experimental test.
Production of 5‐lipoxygenase pathway metabolites by peripheral leucocytes in capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson disease)

Abstract. Periodic systemic capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson disease) is characterized by unexplained attacks of a marked increase in capillary permeability. As leukotrienes, derived from arachidonic acid via the 5‐lipoxygenase pathway, enhance capillary permeability, we studied arachidonate metabolism in leucocytes of a patient with capillary leak syndrome. Leucocyte‐platelet suspensions, prepared from blood collected from the patient during asymptomatic periods (n= 11) produced greater amounts of 5‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5‐HETE) than control suspensions (P < 0·05). Peripheral leucocytes, collected during attacks (n= 3) and studied without addition of A23187 released LTB4 in vitro but not sulphidopeptides leukotrienes. This result was never observed with leucocytes from control subjects or from the patient out of a crisis. These results suggest that in the patient, peripheral leucocytes could be stimulated by an unknown, as yet to be determined, endogeneous factor to produce more 5‐HETE and LTB4. Whether LTB4 plays a pathogenic role in the capillary leakage remains to be determined.
Flexible structures identification for mobile satcom antenna servo systems

With the requirements of antenna pointing accuracy increasing, the high frequency flexible characteristics have become the important factor of limiting the control performance for antenna servo systems. In this paper, an identification method is given to identify the mobile satcom antenna (MSCA) servo system with flexible structure. Using PRBS as the input signal, the impulse response is acquired based on correlation analysis; the state space model is derived from the impulse response through singular value decomposition; and a frequency domain model with explicit flexible parameters is obtained by parameters fitting. This method can intuitively determine the system order, is feasible to be applied to MIMO system. In addition, compared with some traditional identification methods, the experimental results show that this method is able to achieve higher accuracy in flexible structure identification work for electromechanical systems.
Target Capture during Mos1 Transposition*

Background: The target capture is a critical step for the selection of integration site. Results: Mos1 transposon excision occurred before target capture. The TA dinucleotide present in the target and bent targets are important for this step. Conclusion: Target capture mechanism and distribution of mariner elements are linked. Significance: New insights for modeling Mos1 target capture complex and better understanding of mariner transposition cycle. DNA transposition contributes to genomic plasticity. Target capture is a key step in the transposition process, because it contributes to the selection of new insertion sites. Nothing or little is known about how eukaryotic mariner DNA transposons trigger this step. In the case of Mos1, biochemistry and crystallography have deciphered several inverted terminal repeat-transposase complexes that are intermediates during transposition. However, the target capture complex is still unknown. Here, we show that the preintegration complex (i.e., the excised transposon) is the only complex able to capture a target DNA. Mos1 transposase does not support target commitment, which has been proposed to explain Mos1 random genomic integrations within host genomes. We demonstrate that the TA dinucleotide used as the target is crucial both to target recognition and in the chemistry of the strand transfer reaction. Bent DNA molecules are better targets for the capture when the target DNA is nicked two nucleotides apart from the TA. They improve strand transfer when the target DNA contains a mismatch near the TA dinucleotide.