Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A serotonin receptor antagonist induces oocyte maturation in both frogs and mice: Evidence that the same G protein‐coupled receptor is responsible for maintaining meiosis arrest in both species

Accumulating evidence has indicated that vertebrate oocytes are arrested at late prophase (G2 arrest) by a G protein coupled receptor (GpCR) that activates adenylyl cyclases. However, the identity of this GpCR or its regulation in G2 oocytes is unknown. We demonstrated that ritanserin (RIT), a potent antagonist of serotonin receptors 5‐HT2R and 5‐HT7R, released G2 arrest in denuded frog oocytes, as well as in follicle‐enclosed mouse oocytes. In contrast to RIT, several other serotonin receptor antagonists (mesulergine, methiothepine, and risperidone) had no effect on oocyte maturation. The unique ability of RIT, among serotonergic antagonists, to induce GVBD did not match the antagonist profile of any known serotonin receptors including Xenopus 5‐HT7R, the only known Gs‐coupled serotonin receptor cloned so far in this species. Unexpectedly, injection of x5‐HT7R mRNA in frog oocytes resulted in hormone‐independent frog oocyte maturation. The addition of exogenous serotonin abolished x5‐HT7R‐induced oocyte maturation. Furthermore, the combination of x5‐HT7R and exogenous serotonin potently inhibited progesterone‐induced oocyte maturation. These results provide the first evidence that a G‐protein coupled receptor related to 5‐HT7R may play a pivotal role in maintaining G2 arrest in vertebrate oocytes. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GlyR α3: An Essential Target for Spinal PGE2-Mediated Inflammatory Pain Sensitization

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a crucial mediator of inflammatory pain sensitization. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of a specific glycine receptor subtype (GlyR α3) by PGE2-induced receptor phosphorylation underlies central inflammatory pain sensitization. We show that GlyR α3 is distinctly expressed in superficial layers of the spinal cord dorsal horn. Mice deficient in GlyR α3 not only lack the inhibition of glycinergic neurotransmission by PGE2 seen in wild-type mice but also show a reduction in pain sensitization induced by spinal PGE2 injection or peripheral inflammation. Thus, GlyR α3 may provide a previously unrecognized molecular target in pain therapy.
Block encoding and decoding for the optical PPM channel

Pulse position modulation (PPM) is a popular signaling format in pulsed optical communication links. PPM encoding is extended to include block pulse encoding over multiple PPM frames. Maximum likelihood decoding operations associated with this encoding are developed for both shot-noise limited and thermal-noise limited optical receiver models. Both ideal (Poisson) and avalanche photodetectors are considered, and it is shown that optimal block decoders involve combinations of linear and quadratic operations. Error probability bounds are presented, showing the relative improvement in detectability that appears possible by resorting to block encoding over multiple frames.
A dimmable power supply unit for testing LED lamps built around a dedicated integrated circuit

Lighting applications are nowadays arriving at a crossing point. Production and selling of incandescent lamps is drastically decreasing. European countries have decided to arrive to complete interdiction in 2012. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) have some drawbacks limiting their usefulness, with many problems related to compatibility with dimmers, even for supposed dimmable CFL. We present the design of an integrated circuit suitable for dimmable 3 W buck and 12 W flyback architectures for LED based lamps. In recent years, the lighting world has been witness to a new revolution with the appearance of LED based lighting. There are numerous reasons fort he emergence of LED lighting technology. LED technology is constantly developing and improving over time and LEDs are becoming far brighter and much more powerful. Added to their efficiency, these features make them ideal for use in lighting applications.
Genome-Wide Analyses Reveal Genes Subject to Positive Selection in Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, has led to a broad range of diseases in mammals and birds, including fowl cholera in poultry, pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis in swine and rabbit, hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle, and bite infections in humans. In order to better interpret the genetic diversity and adaptation evolution of this pathogen, seven genomes of P. multocida strains isolated from fowls, rabbit and pigs were determined by using high-throughput sequencing approach. Together with publicly available P. multocida genomes, evolutionary features were systematically analyzed in this study. Clustering of 70,565 protein-coding genes showed that the pangenome of 33 P. multocida strains was composed of 1,602 core genes, 1,364 dispensable genes, and 1,070 strain-specific genes. Of these, we identified a full spectrum of genes related to virulence factors and revealed genetic diversity of these potential virulence markers across P. multocida strains, e.g., bcbAB, fcbC, lipA, bexDCA, ctrCD, lgtA, lgtC, lic2A involved in biogenesis of surface polysaccharides, hsf encoding autotransporter adhesin, and fhaB encoding filamentous haemagglutinin. Furthermore, based on genome-wide positive selection scanning, a total of 35 genes were subject to strong selection pressure. Extensive analyses of protein subcellular location indicated that membrane-associated genes were highly abundant among all positively selected genes. The detected amino acid sites undergoing adaptive selection were preferably located in extracellular space, perhaps associated with bacterial evasion of host immune responses. Our findings shed more light on conservation and distribution of virulence-associated genes across P. multocida strains. Meanwhile, this study provides a genetic context for future researches on the mechanism of adaptive evolution in P. multocida.
Bajan Birds Pull Strings: Two Wild Antillean Species Enter the Select Club of String-Pullers

String-pulling is one of the most popular tests in animal cognition because of its apparent complexity, and of its potential to be applied to very different taxa. In birds, the basic procedure involves a food reward, suspended from a perch by a string, which can be reached by a series of coordinated pulling actions with the beak and holding actions of the pulled lengths of string with the foot. The taxonomic distribution of species that pass the test includes several corvids, parrots and parids, but in other families, data are much spottier and the number of individuals per species that succeed is often low. To date, the association between string-pulling ability and other cognitive traits was never tested. It is generally assumed that string-pulling is a complex form of problem-solving, suggesting that performance on string-pulling and other problem-solving tasks should be correlated. Here, we show that individuals of two innovative species from Barbados, the bullfinch Loxigilla barbadensis and the Carib grackle Quiscalus lugubris fortirostris, pass the string-pulling test. Eighteen of the 42 bullfinches tested succeeded, allowing us to correlate performance on this test to that on several other behavioral measurements. Surprisingly, string-pulling in bullfinches was unrelated to shyness, neophobia, problem-solving, discrimination and reversal learning performance. Only two of 31 grackles tested succeeded, precluding correlational analyses with other measures but still, the two successful birds largely differed in their other behavioral traits.
Cancer Therapy : Preclinical CSPG 4 as a Target of Antibody-Based Immunotherapy for Malignant Mesothelioma

Purpose: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer, resistant to current therapies. Membrane chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), which has been successfully targeted in melanoma and breast cancer, was found highly expressed in MM, but not in normal mesothelium. Therefore, we explored CSPG4 as a suitable target for monoclonal antibody (mAb)–based immunotherapy for MM. Experimental design: We assayed adhesion, motility, invasiveness, wound-healing, apoptosis, and anchorage-independent growthofMMcells on cell cultures. CSPG4 expression and signalingwas studied by immunoblotting. The growthofMMsevere combined immunodeficient (SCID)mice xenografts inducedby PPM-Mill cells, engineered to express the luciferase reporter gene, was monitored by imaging, upon treatment with CSPG4 mAb TP41.2. Animal toxicity and survival were assayed in both tumor inhibition and therapeutic experiments. Results:CSPG4was expressed on 6out of 8MMcell lines and in 25 out of 41MMbiopsies, withminimal expression in surrounding healthy cells.MM cell adhesionwasmediated by CSPG4-dependent engagement of ECM. Cell adhesion was inhibited by mAb TP41.2 resulting in decreased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and AKT, reduced expression of cyclin D1 and apoptosis. Moreover, mAb TP41.2 significantly reduced MM cell motility, migration, and invasiveness, and inhibited MM growth in soft agar. In vivo, treatmentwithmAbTP41.2preventedor inhibited the growthofMMxenografts in SCIDmice,with a significant increase in animal survival. Conclusion: These results establish the safety of CSPG4 mAb-based immunotherapy and suggest that CSPG4 mAb-based immunotherapy may represent a novel approach for the treatment of MM. Clin Cancer Res; 18(19); 1–12. 2012 AACR.
Evolutionary Expressed Sequence Tag Analysis of Drosophila Female Reproductive Tracts Identifies Genes Subjected to Positive Selection

Genes whose products are involved in reproduction include some of the fastest-evolving genes found within the genomes of several organisms. Drosophila has long been used to study the function and evolutionary dynamics of genes thought to be involved in sperm competition and sexual conflict, two processes that have been hypothesized to drive the adaptive evolution of reproductive molecules. Several seminal fluid proteins (Acps) made in the Drosophila male reproductive tract show evidence of rapid adaptive evolution. To identify candidate genes in the female reproductive tract that may be involved in female–male interactions and that may thus have been subjected to adaptive evolution, we used an evolutionary bioinformatics approach to analyze sequences from a cDNA library that we have generated from Drosophila female reproductive tracts. We further demonstrate that several of these genes have been subjected to positive selection. Their expression in female reproductive tracts, presence of signal sequences/transmembrane domains, and rapid adaptive evolution indicate that they are prime candidates to encode female reproductive molecules that interact with rapidly evolving male Acps.
Phase I trial of intratumoral injection of an adenovirus encoding interleukin-12 for advanced digestive tumors.

PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility and safety of intratumoral injection of an adenoviral vector encoding human interleukin-12 genes (Ad.IL-12) and secondarily, its biologic effect for the treatment of advanced digestive tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ad.IL-12 was administered in doses ranging from 2.5 x 10(10) to 3 x 10(12) viral particles, to seven cohorts of patients with advanced pancreatic, colorectal, or primary liver malignancies. Patients were thoroughly assessed for toxicity, and antitumor response was evaluated by imaging techniques, tumor biopsy, and hypersensitivity skin tests. Patients with stable disease and no serious adverse reactions were allowed to receive up to 3 monthly doses of Ad.IL-12. RESULTS Twenty-one patients (nine with primary liver, five with colorectal, and seven with pancreatic cancers) received a total of 44 injections. Ad.IL-12 was well tolerated, and dose-limiting toxicity was not reached. Frequent but transient adverse reactions, including fever, malaise, sweating, and lymphopenia, seemed to be related to vector injection rather than to transgene expression. No cumulative toxicity was observed. In four of 10 assessable patients, a significant increase in tumor infiltration by effector immune cells was apparent. A partial objective remission of the injected tumor mass was observed in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. Stable disease was observed in 29% of patients, mainly those with primary liver cancer. CONCLUSION Intratumoral injection of up to 3 x 10(12) viral particles of Ad.IL-12 to patients with advanced digestive malignancies is a feasible and well-tolerated procedure that exerts only mild antitumor effects.
The Effects of Yoga Participation on Women's Quality of Life and Symptom Management During the Menopausal Transition: A Pilot Study

Typically lasting 5–10 years, the menopausal transition is associated with symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, and labile mood. As these symptoms often hinder a woman's successful functioning in everyday life, hormone therapy is commonly prescribed as a means to diminish symptoms. Many women, however, are seeking complementary and alternative treatments due to side effects and/or detrimental health-risks associated with conventional therapies. We completed a mixed methods study to determine changes in physiological symptoms associated with menopause and changes in women's quality of life, as a result of participation in a 10-week yoga intervention.
National Qualifications Frameworks in Ireland and Scotland : A Comparative Analysis

The Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) are two of the longest established comprehensive National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) in Europe. Both are outcomes‐based frameworks of the kind which the European Commission is encouraging countries to adopt, and both have been influential in the development of the European meta‐frameworks, the (Bologna) Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area and the European Qualifications Framework. Both have been seen as models, or at least as sources of lessons, for other European countries (eg Sellin 2007‐08). This paper compares the two frameworks and asks what lessons other countries may draw from their experience.
Preoperative thromboelastometry for the prediction of increased chest tube output in cardiac surgery

Abstract Bleeding following cardiac surgery is a serious event with potentially life-threatening consequences. Preoperative recognition of coagulation abnormalities and detection of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) related coagulopathy could aid in the start of preventive treatment strategies that minimize perioperative blood loss. Most algorithms that analyze thromboelastometry coagulation tests in elective cardiac surgery do not include test results performed before surgery. We evaluated preoperative rotational thromboelastometry test results for their ability to predict blood loss during and after cardiac surgery. A total of 114 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were included in this retrospective analysis. Each patient had thromboelastometry tests done twice: preoperatively, before the induction of anesthesia and postoperatively, 10 minutes after heparin reversal with protamine after decannulation. Patients were placed into 1 of 2 groups depending on whether preoperative thromboelastometry parameters deviated from reference ranges: Group 1 [N = 29; extrinsically activated test (EXTEM) or INTEM results out of normal range] or Group 2 (N = 85; EXTEM and INTEM results within the normal range). We observed that the total amount of chest tube output was significantly greater in Group 1 than in Group 2 (700 mL vs 570 mL, P = .03). At the same time, the preoperative values of standard coagulation tests such as platelet count, aPTT, and INR did not indicate any abnormalities of coagulation. Preoperative coagulation abnormalities diagnosed with thromboelastometry can predict increased chest tube output in the early postoperative period in elective adult cardiac surgery. Monitoring of the coagulation system with thromboelastometry allows rapid diagnosis of coagulation abnormalities even before the start of the surgery. These abnormalities could not always be detected with routine coagulation tests.
The Influence of Operating Room Handoffs on Teamwork , Stress , and Work : a 360 degree Evaluation of Team Shared Situation Awareness

Teamwork is important in the operating room. Team members rely on each other’s expertise for successful task completion. Because of lunch and change of shift breaks, handoffs occur frequently, but little is known about their effect on team performance, or the team’s awareness of these changes. We performed a 360 degree evaluation of the effect of operating room handoffs on teamwork, stress, and work among the members of the operative team (surgeons, anesthesia providers, circulator nurses, scrub technicians). An independent observer also evaluated the effect of handoffs. We specifically examined for evidence of shared team situation awareness. Surgical attendings reported decreased teamwork, increased stress, and increased work due to handoffs in about 30-50% of cases; while nursing personnel reported handoffs to be seamless, and have little effect (5%) on teamwork, stress, or work. This demonstrated a lack of shared team situation awareness, among operating room teams, regarding the influence of handoffs on team performance.
Mutation-prone points in KCNQ.

BACKGROUND KCNQ channels play important roles in controlling membrane excitability. A reduction in KCNQ channel activity due to genetic mutation is responsible for various human diseases, including arrhythmia. METHODS A combined bioinformatics analysis was performed to study the positions that are at risk for mutation within the amino acid sequence of KCNQ. A new bioinformatics tool, namely GlobPlot, was used. RESULTS According to the present study, the positions that are resistant to mutation are predicted. CONCLUSION Several mutation-prone positions within the KCNQ sequence are reported.
Repressor induced site‐specific binding of HU for transcriptional regulation

Transcription from two overlapping gal promoters is repressed by Gal repressor binding to bipartite gal operators, OE and OI, which flank the promoters. Concurrent repression of the gal promoters also requires the bacterial histone‐like protein HU which acts as a co‐factor. Footprinting experiments using iron–EDTA‐coupled HU show that HU binding to gal DNA is orientation specific and is specifically dependent upon binding of GalR to both OE and OI. We propose that HU, in concert with GalR, forms a specific nucleoprotein higher order complex containing a DNA loop. This way, HU deforms the promoter to make the latter inactive for transcription initiation while remaining sensitive to inducer. The example of gal repression provides a model for studying how a ‘condensed’ DNA becomes available for transcription.
Cerebral Palsy: An overview

The developmental disabilities are a group of disorders differentiated by the pattern of delay among developmental streams. The four streams of development include language, problem solving, motor and social. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder of development in which motor function abnormalities are a key feature. It is a most common developmental disorder of children first described by William little in the 1861. Severity varies from mild with minimal disability in which affected person leads almost normal life to severe, associated with several comorbid conditions.
SarA of Staphylococcus aureus Binds to the sarA Promoter To Regulate Gene Expression

ABSTRACT The 375-bp sarA open reading frame is driven by three promoters, P1, P3, and P2. Using gel shift and DNase I footprinting assays, we found that SarA binds to two 26-bp sequences and one 31-bp sequence within the P1 and P3 promoters, respectively. Together with the results of transcription analyses, our data indicate that SarA binds to its own promoter to down-regulate sarA expression.
Role of Negative Emotion in Communication about CO2 Risks

This article describes how the effectiveness of risk communication is determined by the interaction between emotional and informative elements. An experiment is described that examined the role of negative emotion in communication about CO2 risks. This experiment was based on the elaboration likelihood model and the related heuristic systematic model of attitude formation. The results indicated that inducing fear of CO2 risks leads to systematic processing of information about energy conservation as a risk‐reducing strategy. In turn, this results in more favorable attitudes toward energy conservation if strong arguments are provided. Individual differences in concern seem to have similar effects.
Applying a Visual Assessment Tool to Facial Linear Scars

Abstract Previous scar scales have focused on verbal descriptions. A nonverbal visual assessment tool would provide a simple way for patients and physicians to quantify scar appearance. The authors sought to use a validated visual assessment tool for linear surgical scars to assess linear scars on the face and to determine whether patients and surgeons rate scars similarly. A total of 143 patients with linear facial scars resulting from repair of Mohs micrographic surgery defects used the visual assessment tool to rate their surgical scar. Six physicians used the tool to rate a subset of the patients' scar photographs. The scar ratings for patients and physicians were compared. Among the scars rated by both the patients and physicians (n = 79), patients had a significantly lower mean (i.e., more favorable) rating compared with the physicians. This was a single-center study including only Caucasian patients. The visual assessment tool to rate linear surgical scars provided a simple method for both patients and physicians to assess the overall appearance of postsurgical scars. Difference in the scar ranking between patients and physicians indicate the importance of incorporating both patient and physician point of view when assessing scars.
Analyzing the Effect of Clock Jitter on Self-Oscillating Sigma Delta Modulators

This paper presents simple but accurate expressions for the noise components caused by clock jitter, in the output signal of self-oscillating sigma delta modulators (SOSDM). Contrary to conventional continuous time sigma delta modulators (CTSDM), the SOSDM's loop contains a strong oscillation, whose attribution to the system's jitter caused noise has not previously been explored. In this paper, the SOSDM system is modeled, and the effect of the self oscillation, the input signal and the quantization noise on the jitter caused noise in the output signal, is calculated. Results are confirmed by system level simulations.
Gradient forces on optical tweezers for conventional and metamaterial particles using Bessel Beams

By numerically evaluating the beam-shape and the Mie coefficients for an incident Bessel Beam, we show some preliminary results in trapping both conventional and metamaterial particles in optical tweezers, by calculating the gradient forces exerted on them. Some comparisons between scattering phenomena and the ray optics regime for optical trapping are made. We conclude that, contrary to the conventional case of positive refractive index, the gradient forces acting on a metamaterial particle may not invert when the relative refractive index n goes from |n| > 1 to |n| < 1.