Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short Communication Physiological Expression of the Gene for PrP-Like Protein, PrPLP/Dpl, by Brain Endothelial Cells and its Ectopic Expression in Neurons of PrP-Deficient Mice Ataxic Due to Purkinje Cell Degeneration

Recently, a novel gene encoding a prion protein (PrP)-like glycoprotein, PrPLP/Dpl, was identified as being expressed ectopically by neurons of the ataxic PrP-deficient ( Prnp (cid:2) / (cid:2) ) mouse lines exhibiting Purkinje cell degeneration. In adult wild-type mice, PrPLP/Dpl mRNA was physiologically expressed at a high level by testis and heart, but was barely detectable in brain. However, transient expression of Pr-PLP/Dpl mRNA was detectable by Northern blotting in the brain of neonatal wild-type mice, showing maximal expression around 1 week after birth. In situ hybridization paired with immunohistochemistry us-ing anti-factor VIII serum identified brain endothelial cells as expressing the transcripts. Moreover, in the neonatal wild-type mice, the PrPLP/Dpl mRNA colocalized with factor VIII immunoreactivities in spleen and was detectable on capillaries in lamina propria mucosa of gut. These findings suggested a role of PrPLP/Dpl in angiogenesis, in particular blood-brain barrier maturation in the central nervous
Three-dimensional alteration of constricted alveolar ridge affected by root thrusting with and without open-flap decortication.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the morphometric and histological alterations of the constricted alveolar ridge when affected by root thrusting with and without open-flap decortication. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight beagles were divided into three groups: C, control without root thrusting; R, root thrusting only; RD, root thrusting with alveolar decortication. The ridge constriction model was prepared in 16 mandibular quadrants after extraction of the third premolars. Reciprocal root thrusting of the second and fourth premolars was performed toward the constricted ridge for 10 weeks, having a moment of 900 g-mm. Open-flap decortication was conducted on the constricted bone surface in group RD. Micro-CT-based histomorphometric analysis and trichrome-staining-based tissue fractional analysis were performed to evaluate morphometric and microstructural changes on the ridge. RESULTS Group R revealed a higher percentage of bone volume (P < .001), lower bone mineral density (P < .01), and higher trabecular number (P < .001) than did group C, which was supported by a higher bone fraction woven to lamellar bone (P < .05) resulting from histologic fractional analysis. However, group RD showed no significant difference from group C. CONCLUSIONS Root thrusting toward the constricted ridge induced hypertrophic bone modeling with a high trabecular fraction on the ridge. However, combined open-flap decortication with root thrusting did not improve the volume or quality of the constricted ridge.
Role of the Staphylococcus epidermidis slime layer in experimental tunnel tract infections

An experimental animal model was used to assess the slime layer of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a pathogenic factor in tunnel tract infections. Mice were inoculated with high-slime-producing or non-slime-producing strains of S. epidermidis, either along the length of a subcutaneous catheter or in the area where a catheter had been placed and immediately removed (controls). Among the catheter-bearing mice, the phenotypically distinct staphylococci produced similar, high frequencies of abscess formation (72% [44 of 61] versus 81% [31 of 38]; P = 0.29). In controls, the non-slime-producing organisms were significantly more pathogenic (87% [40 of 46] versus 57% [25 of 44] abscess formation; P = 0.001). No consistent difference was detected between blood isolates obtained from patients with central venous catheter bacteremia and those from neonates with bacteremia in the absence of a prosthetic medical device. Quantitative culture of removed catheters showed greater adherence by the slime-producing isolates (P = 0.014). In this mouse model, slime production by S. epidermidis did not increase the risk of catheter tunnel tract infection, despite the greater catheter adherence of the slime-producing organisms. These findings suggest that traumatized tissue may be a sufficient condition for the development of S. epidermidis catheter-associated infections.
Metabolic Engineering To Produce Tyrosine or Phenylalanine in a Tryptophan-Producing Corynebacterium glutamicum Strain

The aromatic amino acids are synthesized via a common biosynthetic pathway. A tryptophan-producing mutant of Corynebacterium glutamicum was genetically engineered to produce tyrosine or phenylalanine in abundance. To achieve this, three biosynthetic genes encoding the first enzyme in the common pathway, 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DS), and the branch-point enzymes chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase were individually cloned from regulatory mutants of C. glutamicum which have either of the corresponding enzymes desensitized to end product inhibition. These cloned genes were assembled one after another onto a multicopy vector of C. glutamicum to yield two recombinant plasmids. One plasmid, designated pKY1, contains the DS and chorismate mutase genes, and the other, designated pKF1, contains all three biosynthetic genes. The enzymes specified by both plasmids were simultaneously overexpressed approximately sevenfold relative to the chromosomally encoded enzymes in a C. glutamicum strain. When transformed with pKY1 or pKF1, tryptophan-producing C. glutamicum KY10865, with the ability to produce 18 g of tryptophan per liter, was altered to produce a large amount of tyrosine (26 g/liter) or phenylalanine (28 g/liter), respectively, because the accelerated carbon flow through the common pathway was redirected to tyrosine or phenylalanine.
Identification of a Human cDNA Clone for Lysosomal Type Ca2+-independent Phospholipase A2 and Properties of the Expressed Protein*

A Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) maximally active at pH 4 and specifically inhibited by the transition-state analogue 1-hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol (MJ33) was isolated from rat lungs. The sequence for three internal peptides (35 amino acids) was used to identify a 1653-base pair cDNA clone (HA0683) from a human myeloblast cell line. The deduced protein sequence of 224 amino acids contained a putative motif (GXSXG) for the catalytic site of a serine hydrolase, but showed no significant homology to known phospholipases. Translation of mRNA produced from this clone in both a wheat germ system and Xenopus oocytes showed expression of PLA2 activity with properties similar to the rat lung enzyme. Apparent kinetic constants for PLA2 with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine as substrate were Km = 0.25 mM and Vmax = 1.89 nmol/h. Activity with alkyl ether phosphatidylcholine as substrate was decreased significantly compared with diacylphosphatidylcholine. Significant lysophospholipase, phospholipase A1, or 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine acetylhydrolase activity was not observed. Enzyme activity was insensitive to p-bromophenacyl bromide, bromoenol lactone, trifluoromethylarachidonoyl ketone, mercaptoethanol, and ATP, but was inhibited by MJ33 and diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, a serine protease inhibitor. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with autoradiography of the translated [35S]methionine-labeled protein confirmed a molecular mass of 25.8 kDa, in good agreement with the enzyme isolated from rat lung. By Northern blot analysis, mRNA corresponding to this clone was present in both rat lung and isolated rat granular pneumocytes. These results represent the first molecular cloning of a cDNA for the lysosomal type Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 group of enzymes.
Novel three-phase multilevel voltage source inverter with reduced no. of switches

Recently, great attention has been addressed for multilevel inverters, as they exhibit low total harmonic distortion in the output voltage and low electromagnetic interference. In this paper a new configuration of three-phase multilevel voltage source inverter is presented. This structure consists of series-connected sub-multilevel inverters blocks. The number of utilized switches, insulated gate driver circuits, voltage standing on switches, installation area and cost are considerably reduced compared to the conventional topologies. With the selected inverter DC sources, high-frequency pulse-width modulation control methods can be effectively applied without loss of modularity. Low-frequency and sinusoidal PWM techniques were successfully applied. Hence, high flexibility in the modulation of the proposed inverter is demonstrated.
Is the Wage Equation Spatial Enough? Evidence from a Novel Regional Trade Dataset

This study focuses on the market accessibility of European regions and its relationship to income per capita, summarized in the new economic geography (NEG) “wage equation”. In a first step, we make use of a novel dataset of bilateral trade flows for 254 European nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS‐2) regions (for 26 European countries excluding Bulgaria and Romania) in order to estimate trade costs and ultimately construct a regional measure of access to markets. In a second step, we test the hypothesis that access to domestic as well as to foreign markets increases income per capita. We find that, in spite of its spatial formulation, the wage equation is not able to capture local spatial patterns of the distribution of European regional income per capita.
Revisiting Money Demand In Malaysia: Simple-Sum Versus Divisia Monetary Aggregates

This paper attempts to determine whether Divisia Monetary Aggregates is a superior monetary instrument in Malaysia where monetary targeting has been replaced by interest rate targeting due to the inadequacy of the monetary aggregates in predicting imperative economic activities. Is there any discernible evidence to suggest that Divisia monetary Aggregates possess significant relationship with the macroeconomics indicators? The empirical results in this study indicate that Divisia M2 performs excellently in the money demand function of Malaysia that incorporated the financial reform and financial development variables. The significance of Divisia money validates the usefulness of monetary targeting to formulate monetary policy in Malaysia.
Fyn and JAK2 Mediate Ras Activation by Reactive Oxygen Species*

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate Ras and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. Because JAK2 is a critical mediator for Ras/Raf/ERK activation by several hormones, we examined the role of JAK2 in ROS signal events. H2O2 stimulated JAK2 activity in fibroblasts with peak at 2–5 min. To determine the specific role of Src and Fyn as mediators of JAK2 activation and its downstream events, we used fibroblasts derived from transgenic mice deficient in Src (Src−/−) or Fyn (Fyn−/−). H2O2-stimulated JAK2 activity was completely inhibited in Fyn−/− cells. Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Ras activation by H2O2 were also significantly reduced in Fyn−/− cells, but not altered in Src−/− cells. Activation of JAK2 was restored when Fyn−/− cells were transfected with B-Fyn but not with Src. Inhibiting JAK2 activity with the specific inhibitor AG-490 prevented H2O2 stimulated Shc and Ras activation. H2O2-mediated ERK1/2 activation in Fyn−/− cells and AG-490 treated cells was completely inhibited at an early time (5 min), but not at late times (20–40 min) after stimulation. These results define a new redox-sensitive pathway for Ras activation and rapid ERK1/2 activation, which is mediated by Fyn and JAK2.
Cytokinin metabolism in phaseolus embryos : genetic difference and the occurrence of novel zeatin metabolites.

The metabolism of trans-[8-(14)C]zeatin was examined in embryos of Phaseolus vulgaris cv Great Northern (GN) and P. lunatus cv Kingston (K) in an attempt to detect genetic variations in organized plant tissues. Metabolites were fractionated by HPLC, and identified by chemical and enzymic tests and GC-MS analyses. Five major metabolites were recovered from P. vulgaris embryo extracts: ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin 5'-monophosphate, an O-glucoside of ribosylzeatin, and two novel metabolites, designated as I and II. Based on results of degradation tests and GC-MS analyses, I and II were tentatively identified as O-ribosyl derivatives of zeatin and ribosylzeatin. In embryos of P. lunatus, however, metabolites I and II were not present. The major metabolites were ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin 5'-monophosphate, and the O-glucosyl derivatives of zeatin and ribosylzeatin. The zeatin metabolites recovered were the same for embryos of different sizes but their quantities varied with embryo size and incubation time. The genetic differences appear to be embryo-specific and may be useful in the studies of the possible relationship between abnormal interspecific hybrid embryo growth and hormonal derangement in Phaseolus. In addition, analyses of both organized (intact) and unorganized (callus) tissues of the same genotype may provide an opportunity to address the problem of differential expression of genes regulating cytokinin metabolism during plant development.
Influence of body composition on energy requirements of beef cows during winter.

Twenty Angus-Hereford and 20 Angus-Holstein cows were individually fed 12.9 or 18.0 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)/head daily from November 28, 1979 through February 21, 1980. Energy retentions for the winter feeding period were calculated by determining body composition at the initiation and at the termination of the feeding period. After the experimental period, all cows were managed the same through weaning. Maintenance energy requirements (Kcal/d) estimated from linear regressions of energy retentions on ME intakes per unit body weight (BW). 75 were 127.6 and 140.3 kcal/BW.75 for Angus-Hereford and Angus-Holstein cows, respectively. Estimates of maintenance energy requirements for thin and fat cows within each breed type indicated that fatter cows of Angus-Hereford breeding had 6.1% lower energy requirements than thinner cows. Opposite trends occurred with Angus-Holstein cows, where fat cows had 2.7% higher maintenance requirements. Estimated maintenance energy requirements were higher (P less than .01) for protein than fat tissue. Maintenance energy requirements of fat was -1.55 kcal ME/kg for Angus-Hereford cows, indicating that for cows of the same lean body mass, cows with more fat have a lower daily energy requirement during winter. Angus-Holstein cows had an estimated maintenance energy requirement of fat of 51.11 kcal ME/kg. Because cattle of Holstein breeding have less subcutaneous fat than cattle of the beef breeds, and less subcutaneous fat would provide less insulation, the estimated maintenance requirements of fat in Angus-Holstein cows may be an estimate of the true maintenance requirement of fat. Estimates of the partial efficiency of ME use for tissue gain and the ME sparing effect of body tissue loss were 78.8% and . 70, respectively, for Angus-Hereford cows and 53.8% and . 46, respectively, for Angus-Holstein cows. Regression of retained energy on cow BW.75, body fat and body protein calculated for Angus-Hereford and Angus-Holstein cows from within energy level indicated that BW.75 accounted for less variation in retained energy than weight of empty body fat or protein. Multiple regressions that contained all three variables accounted for 75% and 32% of the variation for Angus-Hereford and Angus-Holstein cows, respectively. Subsequent performance of the cow and calf was not affected by winter energy levels fed, body composition of cows before calving or body energy changes of cows during the winter.
Activation of placental mTOR signaling and amino acid transporters in obese women giving birth to large babies.

CONTEXT Babies of obese women are often large at birth, which is associated with perinatal complications and metabolic syndrome later in life. The mechanisms linking maternal obesity to fetal overgrowth are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that placental insulin/IGF-I and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is activated and amino acid transporter activity is increased in large babies of obese women. DESIGN AND SETTING Pregnant women were recruited prospectively for collection of placental tissue at a university hospital and academic biomedical center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-three Swedish pregnant women with first trimester body mass index ranging from 18.5 to 44.9 kg/m(2) and with uncomplicated pregnancies participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We determined the phosphorylation of key signaling molecules (including Akt, IRS-1, S6K1, 4EBP-1, RPS6, and AMPK) in the placental insulin/IGF-I, AMPK, and mTOR signaling pathways. The activity and protein expression of the amino acid transporter systems A and L were measured in syncytiotrophoblast microvillous plasma membranes. RESULTS Birth weights (range, 3025-4235 g) were positively correlated to maternal body mass index (P < 0.05). The activity of placental insulin/IGF-I and mTOR signaling was positively correlated (P < 0.001), whereas AMPK phosphorylation was inversely (P < 0.05) correlated to birth weight. Microvillous plasma membrane system A, but not system L, activity and protein expression of the system A isoform SNAT2 were positively correlated to birth weight (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Up-regulation of specific placental amino acid transporter isoforms may contribute to fetal overgrowth in maternal obesity. This effect may be mediated by activation of insulin/IGF-I and mTOR signaling pathways, which are positive regulators of placental amino acid transporters.
A Preliminary Fastview of Mitochondrial Protein Profile from Healthy and Type 2 Diabetic Subjects

Type 2 diabetes results from the development of insulin resistance and a concomitant impairment of insulin secretion. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are thought to be the major contributor to the development of various pathologies, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mitochondrial oxidative stress has been reported in models of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and may play a central role in mitochondrial dysfunction. In the present study, we investigated the occurrence of protein alterations, due to the presence of type 2 diabetes, in mitochondria isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). PBMCs may be suitable for this investigation because they have insulin receptors that quickly respond to changes in insulin concentration, and in the presence of insulin rapidly increase their rates of glucose utilization. In the presence of insulin-resistance conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, this mechanism is altered and the glycation of cytoplasmic as well as mitochondrial proteins may plausibly appear. Therefore, PBMCs may be useful tools to verify modifications or altered expression of mitochondrial proteins. Human mitochondria were obtained from 32 subjects, 16 healthy controls and 16 type 2 diabetic patients. Two different methods for mitochondria isolation and purification were employed and compared. Some proteins have been found to be differently expressed in the two groups of subjects under investigation and can be classified into two sets: i.e. proteins related to ATP synthase [e.g. 6.8 kDa mitochondrial proteolipid (MLQ); ATP-CF6 (m/z 12,597)] and proteins related to cell proliferation and apoptosis [e.g. TIMM9 (m/z 10,378); Bcl-2-like protein 2 (m/z 20,742)].
EDA cost optimization through design process analytics

R&D costs for semiconductor technologies are escalating at a greater pace. These costs put tremendous strain on budgets and are contributing to the current wave of consolidation in the semiconductor industry. It is essential for companies to control their EDA tool costs which form majority of the R&D cost and keep their processes smarter now than ever. Traditional EDA cost optimization efforts have concentrated only on license server and compute farm information stored in databases, without the design information generated by the tool. To enable smarter cost-saving/planning/management decisions, it is no more suffice to analyze the license usage information alone in a silo; there has to be holistic understanding of the user-tool-license-compute ecosystem to have a significant impact. In this paper we discuss our approach to efficiently gather and store design process data of EDA tools using Big Data technologies along with examples of specific analysis methods and visualizations for mining insights from such data-store. We also elaborate the benefits and applications of our approach in planning and management of licenses and other resources involved in the design cycle.
Reduced Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Schizophrenia Receiving Prolactin Raising Anti-Psychotic Medication

Patients with schizophrenia frequently develop drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia and consequent hypogonadism. Reduced bone mineral density as a consequence of hyperprolactinaemia-induced hypogonadism has been well documented in medical, but not psychiatric, disorders. Little attention has been given to the potential risk of developing osteoporosis secondary to anti-psychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia. Three cases are presented that illustrate how this debilitating but silent disease may affect even those young individuals with schizophrenia.
The non‐peptide tachykinin antagonist, CP‐96,345, is a potent inhibitor of neurogenic inflammation

1 Release of the tachykinin, substance P, from the peripheral terminals of polymodal afferent C‐fibres is thought to be largely responsible for the vasodilatation and plasma protein extravasation described as neurogenic inflammation. The effects of CP‐96,345, a non‐peptide antagonist at the substance P (NK1) receptor, on these vascular reactions were investigated in the rat. 2 Intravenously (i.v.) injected CP‐96,345 (0.4–3.0 μmol kg−1) prevented the drop in blood pressure, a measure of the peripheral vasodilatation, evoked by substance P and neurokinin A in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner, but did not affect that elicited by the non‐tachykinin peptides calcitonin gene‐related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. 3 Plasma protein extravasation evoked by i.a. infusion of substance P, antidromic stimulation of the saphenous or the vagus nerve, and stimulation of cutaneous afferent nerves with mustard oil, were each significantly inhibited by CP‐96,345 (3.0–9.0 μmol kg−1, i.v.). Furthermore, CP‐96,345 was orally active in blocking mustard oil‐induced plasma extravasation with an ED50 of 10 μmol kg−1. 4 The inhibition of substance P‐induced vasodilatation and of neurogenic plasma extravasation by CP‐96,345 was stereospecific as the inactive isomer CP‐96,344 (2R, 3R enantiomer of CP‐96,345) had no effect. 5 Thus CP‐96,345 is a specific, highly potent, long‐acting and orally active inhibitor of tachykinin‐mediated neurogenic inflammation.