Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell Differentiation Inducing Steroids from Withania somnifera L. (Dun.).

In the course of screening for cell differentiation inducers from botanical sources, the methanol extract of Withania somnifera L. (DUN.) showed activity. From the aerial parts of the plant, sixteen withanolides, including three new compounds, 14, 15 and 16, were isolated and their structures elucidated to be (20S, 22R)-4β, 5β, 6α, 27-tetrahydroxy-1-oxo-witha-2, 24-dienolide, (20R, 22R, 24S, 25R)-4β, 20β-dihydroxy-5β, 6β-epoxy-3β-methoxy-1-oxo-withanolide and 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(20S, 22R)-1α, 3β-dihydroxywitha-5, 24-di-enolide, respectively, from the spectral data. Of these withanolides, 1, 2, 3 and 4 showed potent cell differentiation inducing activity against M1 cells. The most potent compound, 3, showed more potent activity than dexamethasone, the positive control. These active compounds have the same partial structure of the AB ring part, having a 4β-hydroxy-5β, 6β-epoxy-2-en-1-one moiety.
A New Memory CD27−IgG+ B Cell Population in Peripheral Blood Expressing VH Genes with Low Frequency of Somatic Mutation1

In humans, up to 40% of peripheral B cells express CD27 and have hypermutated variable regions in their Ig genes. The CD27+ B cells are considered to be derived from germinal center following specific antigenic stimulation. Actually, somatic hypermutation in Ig genes and CD27 expression are hallmarks of memory B cells. However, the blood IgM+IgD+CD27+ B cells were recently associated to splenic marginal zone B cells and proposed to be a subset distinct from germinal center-derived memory B cells showing premutated Igs. The results presented herein further weaken this bona fide association because B cells expressing surface IgG, but not CD27, were found in human blood. Representing 1–4% of all peripheral B cells and ∼25% of the IgG+ blood B cells, this population expressed mutated IgG genes showing antigenic selection characteristics but with lower mutation frequencies than that of CD27+IgG+ B cells. However, their morphology and phenotype were similar to that of CD27+IgG+ cells. Interestingly, the proportion of IgG2 over IgG3 transcripts was opposite in CD27−IgG+ and CD27+IgG+ cells, suggesting distinct functions or origins. Overall, these findings extend the memory B cell reservoir beyond the CD27+ compartment and could provide further insights into B cell disorders of unknown etiology.
The Design and Fabrication of Implanted Intracranial Pressure Sensor

For the purpose of intracranial pressure measurement, implantable intracranial pressure monitoring sensor applying to the long-term and real-time monitoring to the intracranial pressure of the brain patients, a pressure sensor was designed based on the piezoresistive principle. The fabrication of pressure sensor adopted the technology of bulk micromachining to form the structure, and used the ion implanted technique to form resistances. The packaging was successfully fabricated by using biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy and polyurethane. The output characteristic of the sensor is measured. It was demonstrated that this pressure sensor has good performance, include linearity, accuracy and sensitivity for medical applications.
RISK FACTORS FOR POST‐INJURY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Serious nonfatal physical injuries and burns are common occurrences that can have substantial implications for personal, social, and occupational functioning. Such injuries are frequently associated with significant mental health issues, and compromised quality of life and well‐being. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on physical, psychological, and social risk factors for mental health issues post‐injury and to contextualize findings using Engel's biopsychosocial framework. We distinguish between pre‐injury, injury‐related, and post‐injury risk factors for mental health problems. Female sex, history of mental health problems or trauma, type of injury, and level of pain are among the strong risk factors for mental health problems post‐injury. We highlight inconsistent findings in the literature, identify directions for future research, and explore the implications of the risk factors identified for treatment and prevention.
Decreased NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease

Background and purpose: The preferential degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta is the pathological hallmark in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The transcription factors NURR1 and PITX3 have been shown to play a crucial role in the maturation and survival of mDA neurons, and both of them were potential susceptibility genes for PD.
Impact of the Microscale Distribution of a Pseudomonas Strain Introduced into Soil on Potential Contacts with Indigenous Bacteria

ABSTRACT Soil bioaugmentation is a promising approach in soil bioremediation and agriculture. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the fate and activity of introduced bacteria in soil and thus of their impact on the soil environment is still limited. The microscale spatial distribution of introduced bacteria has rarely been studied, although it determines the encounter probability between introduced cells and any components of the soil ecosystem and thus plays a role in the ecology of introduced bacteria. For example, conjugal gene transfer from introduced bacteria to indigenous bacteria requires cell-to-cell contact, the probability of which depends on their spatial distribution. To quantitatively characterize the microscale distribution of an introduced bacterial population and its dynamics, a gfp-tagged derivative of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was introduced by percolation in repacked soil columns. Initially, the introduced population was less widely spread at the microscale level than two model indigenous functional communities: the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid degraders and the nitrifiers (each at 106 CFU g−1 soil). When the soil was percolated with a substrate metabolizable by P. putida or incubated for 1 month, the microscale distribution of introduced bacteria was modified towards a more widely dispersed distribution. The quantitative data indicate that the microscale spatial distribution of an introduced strain may strongly limit its contacts with the members of an indigenous bacterial community. This could constitute an explanation to the low number of indigenous transconjugants found most of time when a plasmid-donor strain is introduced into soil.
Heme Oxygenase-1 Mediates Neuroprotection Conferred by Argon in Combination with Hypothermia in Neonatal Hypoxia–Ischemia Brain Injury

Background:Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy is a major cause of mortality and disability in the newborn. The authors investigated the protective effects of argon combined with hypothermia on neonatal rat hypoxic–ischemic brain injury. Methods:In in vitro studies, rat cortical neuronal cell cultures were challenged by oxygen and glucose deprivation for 90 min and exposed to 70% Ar or N2 with 5% CO2 balanced with O2, at 33°C for 2 h. Neuronal phospho-Akt, heme oxygenase-1 and phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3&bgr; expression, and cell death were assessed. In in vivo studies, neonatal rats were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia (8% O2 balanced with N2 and CO2) for 90 min. They were exposed to 70% Ar or N2 balanced with oxygen at 33°, 35°, and 37°C for 2 h. Brain injury was assessed at 24 h or 4 weeks after treatment. Results:In in vitro studies, argon–hypothermia treatment increased phospho-Akt and heme oxygenase-1 expression and significantly reduced the phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3&bgr; Tyr-216 expression, cytochrome C release, and cell death in oxygen–glucose deprivation–exposed cortical neurons. In in vivo studies, argon–hypothermia treatment decreased hypoxia/ischemia-induced brain infarct size (n = 10) and both caspase-3 and nuclear factor-&kgr;B activation in the cortex and hippocampus. It also reduced hippocampal astrocyte activation and proliferation. Inhibition of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway through LY294002 attenuated cerebral protection conferred by argon–hypothermia treatment (n = 8). Conclusion:Argon combined with hypothermia provides neuroprotection against cerebral hypoxia–ischemia damage in neonatal rats, which could serve as a new therapeutic strategy against hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy.
MAP kinase links the fertilization signal transduction pathway to the G1/S‐phase transition in starfish eggs

The mechanism by which fertilization initiates S‐phase in the zygote is examined by manipulating the activity of MAP kinase in mature starfish eggs. These unfertilized eggs, which are arrested at G1‐phase after the completion of meiosis, have high MAP kinase activity but undetectable cdc2 kinase activity. Either fertilization or inhibition of protein synthesis causes a decrease in MAP kinase activity, which is followed by DNA synthesis. Inactivation of MAP kinase with its specific phosphatase, CL100, initiates DNA synthesis in the absence of fertilization, while constitutive activation of MAP kinase with MEK represses the initiation of DNA synthesis following fertilization. Thus, in unfertilized mature starfish eggs, a capacity for DNA replication is already acquired, but entry into S‐phase is negatively regulated by MAP kinase activity that is supported by a continuously synthesized protein(s) but not by cdc2 kinase. Upon fertilization, downregulation of MAP kinase activity is necessary and sufficient for triggering the G1/S‐phase transition.
Experimental Mouse Plasmacytoma: Presence of two Populations of Plasma Cells

In mouse plasmacytoma experimentally induced with mineral oil, the presence of two plasma cells populations has been observed with the electron microscope. The most evident difference between them is represented by a different electron density, as to permit to classify them into « dark » and « light » cells. The higher electron density is ascribed to a higher cytoplasmatic concentration of ribosomial granules and mainly to a particular abundance of proteic material in the hyaloplasmic matrix. The possibility is discussed either that both the plasma cells populations really represent two different cellular kinds or, on the contrary, that they belong to the same cellular stem in a different functional behaviour or in a different maturation phase.
Inflammation even promotes malignant transformation of ovarian endometriosis by inducing mismatch repair Inflammation and endometriosis

Endometriosis is defined by presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity and it affects approximately 5%–10% of women of reproductive age. Although endometriosis is usually considered to be due to retrograde menstruation, the true pathogenesis of this disease remains poorly understood. Endometriosis is associated with an inflammatory response and this inflammation leads to endothelial dysfunction and might even lead to carcinogenesis. Here, we review our current understanding of the role of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Design, simulation and comparison of single phase bidirectional converters for V2G and G2V applications

Meeting peak demand is a major challenge faced by our power sector. Electric vehicle penetration, having V2G capability can reduce the impact of this peak deficiency and can facilitate DSM. Bidirectional converters are the most important part of these V2G capable vehicles. So this paper contains the design, simulation and comparison of 2 types of single phase bidirectional converters suitable for V2G and G2V applications. Simulations are performed using Matlab - Simulink background.
Low chirp observed in directly modulated quantum dot lasers

We have examined the dynamic properties of high-aspect-ratio InAs-quantum-dot (QD) lasers at room temperature. A novel characteristic of low chirp in the lasing wavelength under 1-GHz current modulation was found in the quantum dot lasers. This is more than one order of magnitude less than the typical chirp (0.2-nm) found in a conventional quantum well laser that we used as a reference. Low chirp was obtained not only in the ground state lasing but in the second level lasing of quantum dots as well.
The control of retinal ganglion cell discharge by receptive field surrounds.

1. This paper describes the behaviour of the receptive field surround, and how surround signals combine with those from the centre to generate the discharge of the retinal ganglion cells of the cat. 2. A small test spot is flashed upon the middle of the receptive field of an on‐centre X‐cell, alone, or together with a concentric annulus of fixed luminance. The reduction in discharge brought about by the annulus is independent of spot luminance. From this it is inferred that centre and surround signals combine additively. 3. Knowing that the combination of signals is additive, the surround signal can be estimated by comparing the ganglion cell's response to diffuse illumination of its receptive field with that to an equiluminous spot which optimally stimulates the centre while encroaching minimally upon the periphery. 4. Application of this technique to X‐cells shows that although the surround seems to have a threshold, it is at its most sensitive in the dark‐adapted eye, and typically is only 0.3–0.5 log units less sensitive than the centre. 5. Centre and surround sensitivities are decreased from their dark‐adapted levels by increasing background illumination, but the decline of surround sensitivity is initially less rapid than that of the centre. Thus with increasing light‐adaptation the surround becomes relatively more sensitive. In the light‐adapted eye centre and surround are about equally sensitive to diffuse illumination. 6. Although, in the dark‐adapted eye, illumination of the receptive field periphery of an on‐centre unit depresses firing, removal of that illumination produces no off‐discharge. Off‐discharges appear only when background illumination exceeds about 104 quanta (507)/deg 2 sec. This confirms Barlow & Levick (1969b). 7. In the dark‐adapted eye surround latency is longer than that of the centre. With increasing background illumination the latency difference is reduced. 8. For X‐cells, the rate of the maintained discharge depends to some extent on the balance of centre‐surround antagonism. But this antagonism is not the major factor accounting for the relative constancy of mean rate at high background luminances, for the rate then can be almost independent of the size of a steady pot. 9. The mean rate of discharge of Y‐cells seems to depend even less upon the balance of centre‐surround antagonism. 10. Y‐cell surrounds could not properly be isolated with the optimal spot‐diffuse illumination technique, so detailed measurements of their behaviour were not made. However, the dark‐adapted surround appear to be as sensitive as those of X‐cells.
Generalized synchronization of chaos in directionally coupled chaotic systems.

Synchronization of chaotic systems is frequently taken to mean actual equality of the variables of the coupled systems as they evolve in time. We explore a generalization of this condition, which equates dynamical variables from one subsystem with a function of the variables of another subsystem. This means that synchronization implies a collapse of the overall evolution onto a subspace of the system attractor in full space. We explore this idea in systems where a response system [bold y]([ital t]) is driven with the output of a driving system [bold x]([ital t]), but there is no feedback to the driver. We lose generality but gain tractability with this restriction. To investigate the existence of the synchronization condition [bold y]([ital t])=[phi]([bold x]([ital t])) we introduce the idea of mutual false nearest neighbors to determine when closeness in response space implies closeness in driving space. The synchronization condition also implies that the response dynamics is determined by the drive alone, and we provide tests for this as well. Examples are drawn from computer simulations on various known cases of synchronization and on data from nonlinear electrical circuits. Determining the presence of generalized synchronization will be quite important when one has only scalarmore » observations from the drive and from the response systems since the use of time delay (or other) embedding methods will produce imperfect'' coordinates in which strict equality of the synchronized variables is unlikely to transpire. « less
Geometry and P- and S- Velocity Structures of the

[1] We constrain the geometry and P and S velocity structure of a low-velocity anomaly in the lower mantle beneath southern Africa (we term it the “African Anomaly”) on the basis of forward traveltime and waveform modeling of seismic data sampling a great arc across the anomaly from the East Pacific Rise to the Japan Sea. Our collected data set consists of direct S, direct P, Sdiff, ScS, PcP, SKS, and SKKS phases recorded by three temporary broadband PASSCAL seismic arrays deployed in Africa between 1994 and 2002, the Tanzania seismic array (1994–1995), the Kaapvaal seismic array (1997–1999), and the Ethiopia/Kenya seismic array (2000–2002) for earthquakes occurring in the East Pacific Rise, Drake Passage, South Sandwich islands, Iran, Hindu Kush, Xinjiang, and the Japan Sea. The seismic data provide excellent sampling of the African Anomaly in the lower mantle along the specific great arc. In order to accurately account for the contributions from the African Anomaly, we relocate all the events using a global seismic shear velocity tomographic model and seismic data recorded by the Global Seismographic Network and correct for the contributions from the seismic heterogeneities outside the African Anomaly. The seismic observations suggest that the African Anomaly locally extends 1300 km above the core-mantle boundary beneath southern Africa (around −25°N, 27°E) and exhibits a “bell-like” geometry with both the southwestern and the northeastern flanks dipping toward its center with the lateral dimension of the anomaly increasing with depth. The base is about 4000 km wide extending broadly in both the southwestward and the northeastward directions. The seismic data can best be explained by a shear velocity structure with average velocity decreases of −5% in the base and −2% to −3% in the mid-lower mantle above the base, and a compressional velocity structure with a uniform S to P velocity perturbation ratio of 3:1 for the entire African Anomaly. These geometric and velocity features suggest that the mid-lower mantle portion of the African Anomaly is an integral component of the very low velocity province and the African Anomaly is compositionally distinct and geologically stable.
Efecto económico de dos métodos de pastoreo rotacional con vacas lecheras y dos intensidades de pastoreo

Para evaluar el efecto de dos intensidades de pastoreo se realizo un estudio, durante cuatro anos, en el sistema suelo-planta-animal. En el analisis economico se tomaron los gastos y los ingresos, por metodo de pastoreo. Los datos se analizaron segun un modelo de clasificacion simple. Los gastos por concepto de alimentacion disminuyeron en el tiempo (P < 0.01), representando 54.1 vs 52.5 % y 21.3 vs 21.5 % vs el total de gastos, para alta intensidad (AI) y baja intensidad (BI), en el primero y cuarto ano. Con respecto al costo promedio de produccion y mercantil del litro de leche, ambos no difirieron entre los metodos y disminuyeron del primero al cuarto ano (P < 0.05), con valores de 0.35, 0.39, 0.47 y 0.64 y 0.38, 0.44, 0.52 y 0.71 pesos cubanos/L, respectivamente. La relacion beneficio-costo no mostro diferencia entre los metodos; sin embargo, en ambos disminuyo (P < 0.01) en el cuarto ano con relacion al primero (2.26 vs 1.24). Las ganancias economicas, por animal y area, no difirieron entre los tratamientos; no obstante, se observo una reduccion ( P < 0.01) de ambos indicadores economicos en el transcurso del estudio, lo que demostro una insostenibilidad en los sistemas durante los cuatro anos. En las condiciones de este estudio, de acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos e independientemente de las intensidades de pastoreo utilizadas, se demostro que con bajos insumos no se logra una estabilidad desde el punto de vista bioeconomico, debido a la baja productividad de los animales. Por tal motivo, es necesario continuar estudios para lograr un equilibrio en los ecosistemas de pastizales (suelo-planta-animal) y tambien desde el punto de vista economico. Palabras clave: gasto, costo, beneficio/costo, ganancia, produccion .
Mirror-based trinocular systems in robot-vision

A new variant of multi-ocular stereo vision has been developed. The system involves a single camera and two orthogonal planar mirrors. The resulting device is a low-cost, compact sensor, particularly suitable for depth determination in robot vision applications. The motivation for the work is the need for a sensor determining spatial coordinates of a robot tool and the object to be processed. The system inherently possess fewer calibration parameters and provides a higher accuracy in the depth determination than traditional two-camera stereo systems. A prototype of the new device was built, and test results are presented.
A Limited Association of OGG1 Ser326Cys Polymorphism for Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

The 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) repairs DNA by removing 8-hydroxyguanine, a highly mutagenic oxidative DNA adduct. Recently, the gene for OGG1 was cloned and several polymorphisms have been reported. Because environmental carcinogens produce 8-hydroxyguanine residues that potentially cause oncogenic mutations by mismatching to this modified base, the capacity to repair these lesions can be involved in cancer susceptibility. This study investigated the association between OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and risk of the lung adenocarcinoma for Japanese by a prevalent case-control study in Japan. The subjects comprised 138 cases and 241 non-cancer outpatients as controls. OGG1 gene polymorphism was genotyped by a PCR-CTPP (polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers) method. The distribution of OGG1 Ser326Cys genotype among controls (Ser/Ser, 28.3%; Ser/Cys, 49.2%; and Cys/Cys, 22.5%) was not different from that among cases (Ser/Ser, 29.0%; Ser/Cys, 51.4%; and Cys/Cys, 24.0%). The sex-age adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.06 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-1.76 for Ser/Cys genotype and 0.81 with 0.44-1.52 for Cys/Cys genotype. The ORs according to the interval between diagnosis and study enrollment were also examined because the polymorphism was a potential prognostic factor of lung cancer. The ORs of Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys genotypes in the cases less than 3 years after diagnosis were higher than overall ORs; 1.86 (95%CI, 0.91 -3.77), and 1.46 (0.64-3.35), respectively. The OR for smoking was not statistically different among genotype, though the sample size was too small to detect even a moderate interaction. This study supported the first study by Sugimura et al (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 1999; 8: 669-674), that the association of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism was limited for the risk of lung adenocarcinoma.
Accurate effective mobility extraction by split C-V technique in SOI MOSFETs: suppression of the influence of floating-body effects

In this letter, we modify the split capacitance-voltage technique to exclude the influence of floating-body effects on the extracted mobility values and extend its applicability by using the integral of transconductance measured at high frequencies instead of dc drain current values. For the first time it is shown that such procedure allows not only to suppress parasitic gate-induced floating-body effect, which is an inevitable feature of advanced silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs, but also to improve the general accuracy of mobility extraction in moderate-to-strong inversion regime. We demonstrate the advantages of our modified technique over the conventional one by applying it to partially depleted silicon-on-insulator devices from a FinFET process.