Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effects of praeruptorin C on vascular hypertrophy, [Ca2+]i, collagen content and NO in renovascular and spontaneously hypertensive rats].

AIM To study the effects of praeruptorin C (pra-C), a pure constituent isolated from "Qian-Hu", the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. (Umbelliferae), on vascular hypertrophy, collagen content, transient [Ca2+]i, NO and vascular response of the thoracic aorta of renovascular and spontaneously hypertensive rats (RHR, SHR). METHODS RHR and SHR were given pra-C 20 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 9 weeks, ig. Blood pressure of both rats were measured using tail cuff manometry. Under inverted microscopy the length and width of the smooth muscle cells were measured by using computer software MICC (Dongnan University). [Ca2+]i of smooth muscle cell (SMCs) was measured with Fura-2/AM. By measuring the specific aminoacid hydroxyproline content, the collagen content was obtained. By using Griess reagent, the NO in the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was measured. RESULTS The intermedia of the thoracic aorta in RHR was enlarged than that of the normal and pra-C groups. The size (length x width) of the SMCs of thoracic aorta from RHR increased 73.4 microns vs nomal 34.5 microns and pra-C 34 microns. The collagen content of thoracic aorta was 39% +/- 6.8% dry weight in RHR, they were 26.5% +/- 3% dry weight in normal and 25.6% +/- 1.1% dry weight in pra-C, RHR vs pra-C. The resting [Ca2+]i of single cell of SMCs was (62 +/- 6) nmol.L-1. In Hanks solution containing CaCl2 1 mmol.L-1, the resting [Ca2+]i of SMCs was (150 +/- 8) nmol.L-1 in normal. (226 +/- 11) nmol.L-1 in RHR. In presence of KCl 60 mmol.L-1, NE 10 mumol.L-1, ANG II 100 nmol.L-1 and ATP 30 mumol.L-1 the [Ca2+]i of SMCs were increased by 128%; 132%; 233% and 152% in RHR, respectively. The pra-C group was similar to the normal group. The resting [Ca2+]i of SMCs was (71 +/- 6) nmol.L-1 in control of SHR, in Hanks solution containing CaCl2 1 mmol.L-1. The resting [Ca2+]i of SMCs was (160 +/- 8) nmol.L-1 in normal, and (362 +/- 18) nmol.L-1 in SHR. In presence KCl 60 mmol.L-1 and NE 10 mumol.L-1 the [Ca2+]i of SMCs were increased by 235% and 200% in SHR, respectively. Pra-C group was similar to normal group. NO of SMCs was decreased 76% in SHR, pra-C group was nearly normal. The pra-C improved vascular responses of the thoracic aorta of RHR. CONCLUSION These results indicate that pra-C improved the vascular hypertrophy by decreasing the size of SMCs cells, collagen content. SMCs [Ca2+]i and increasing NO production.
Personalize or Perish

22 Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction The Web today is a sea of information. As the amount of information on the Web increases, its utility decreases until it has lost it. As people get busier, they have less and less time to go look for information; the information must come to them or they may never see it. In light of these trends, companies creating web sites to supply their customers, employees, and business partners with products, services, and information must evaluate their web strategies to provide personally relevant content and create one-to-one relationships (Peppers and Rogers, 1996) with their customers. This white paper gives a high-level explanation of what one-to-one-relationships are and how they are achieved with personalization techniques.
Outcome after intrapartum asphyxia in term infants.

Investigatory techniques, particularly magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy, performed in the early neonatal period on infants suspected of intrapartum asphyxia i.e. abnormal fetal heart recording, poor cord gases, low Apgar scores and the need for resuscitation, or with neonatal encephalopathy or seizures, have allowed a much better understanding of the patterns of brain injury and the biochemical processes that follow these events. It is usually possible to distinguish these patterns from those seen in other, often confounding, diagnoses. This has allowed far more precision about the timing of insults and in the prediction of particularly motor, feeding and visual outcome and to some extent intellectual outcome. Long-term neurological and psychometric follow-up of infants in whom detailed perinatal clinical histories and examination, haematological and biochemical investigation and MR brain scans are obtained will allow even more accurate prediction of outcome in the future. Such studies also help to validate standardized neonatal and infant clinical neurological examinations, making them useful tools to predict outcome.
Candidate Gene Analyses of Skeletal Variation in Malocclusion

This study evaluated associations between craniofacial candidate genes and skeletal variation in patients with malocclusion. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 269 untreated adults with skeletal classes I, II, and III malocclusion were digitized with 14 landmarks. Two-dimensional coordinates were analyzed using Procrustes fit and principal component (PC) analysis to generate continuous malocclusion phenotypes. Skeletal class classifications (I, II, or III) were used as a categorical phenotype. Individuals were genotyped for 198 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 71 craniofacial genes and loci. Phenotype-genotype associations were tested via multivariate linear regression for continuous phenotypes and multinomial logistic regression for skeletal malocclusion class. PC analysis resulted in 4 principal components (PCs) explaining 69% of the total skeletal facial variation. PC1 explained 32.7% of the variation and depicted vertical discrepancies ranging from skeletal deep to open bites. PC1 was associated with a SNP near PAX5 (P = 0.01). PC2 explained 21.7% and captured horizontal maxillomandibular discrepancies. PC2 was associated with SNPs upstream of SNAI3 (P = 0.0002) and MYO1H (P = 0.006). PC3 explained 8.2% and captured variation in ramus height, body length, and anterior cranial base orientation. PC3 was associated with TWIST1 (P = 0.000076). Finally, PC4 explained 6.6% and detected variation in condylar inclination as well as symphysis projection. PC4 was associated with PAX7 (P = 0.007). Furthermore, skeletal class II risk increased relative to class I with the minor alleles of SNPs in FGFR2 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, P = 0.004) and declined with SNPs in EDN1 (OR = 0.5, P = 0.007). Conversely, skeletal class III risk increased versus class I with SNPs in FGFR2 (OR 2.2, P = 0.005) and COL1A1 (OR = 2.1, P = 0.008) and declined with SNPs in TBX5 (OR = 0.5, P = 0.014). PAX5, SNAI3, MYO1H, TWIST1, and PAX7 are associated with craniofacial skeletal variation among patients with malocclusion, while FGFR2, EDN1, TBX5, and COL1A1 are associated with type of skeletal malocclusion.
Helicobacter pylori in the Etiology of Cholesterol Gallstones

Goals: We aimed to investigate the presence of bacterial structures in cholesterol gallstones and particularly presence of Helicobacter spp/H. pylori in gallstones by microbiologic cultivation, histopathologic staining, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Background: Many studies suggest that different mechanisms are responsible for the formation of pigmented gallstones and cholesterol gallstones. Recently, studies showed that infection could have an important role in the formation of cholesterol gallbladder stones. Study: We examined 77 mixed cholesterol gallstones. After cholecystectomy, gallbladder cultures were done for H. pylori and other bacterium. Gallbladder has also been examined by three histopathologic staining methods (Warthin-Starry, hematoxylin eosin, and gram staining) for Helicobacter spp. In addition, 16S rRNA-PCR amplification was performed for Helicobacter spp in gallstones. Twenty postmortem gallbladders without gallstones were investigated by the same histopathologic and PCR methods for Helicobacter spp. as a control group. Results: Different bacterium were isolated from 22 gallbladder samples (12 Escherichia coli, 8 Pseudomonas, and 2 clostridium) and H. pylori was isolated in 6 gallbladder samples. Helicobacter spp was found in 7 gallstones by PCR amplification. Helicobacter-like organisms were demonstrated in 18 samples by three different histopathologic methods. Helicobacter-like organisms were also found in five samples by the same histopathologic methods (Warthin-Starry, hematoxylin-eosin, and gram staining). Only four samples were found positive for Helicobacter spp/H. pylori by all methods. Conclusions: Bacterial population including H. pylori could have a possible role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
Eine neue Domäne der IL-6 Rezeptor β -Kette, gp130, vermittelt Zellwachstum und die Aktivierung der Kinasen Hck und Erk

IL-6 spielt eine entscheidende Rolle fur die Entstehung vieler Krankheiten, ins-besondere des Plasmozytoms. Uber die molekularen Mechanismen die daran be-teiligt sind, lagen allerdings bisher wenig Daten vor. Aufgrund eigener Vorarbei-ten war bekannt, dass IL-6 die Src-Kinasen Hck, Fyn und Lyn aktiviert. Ziel die-ser Arbeit war es, genauere Erkenntnisse uber die genauen Mechanismen dieser Aktivierung zu gewinnen. Mittels Mutationsanalysen wurde eine „saure Domane“ zwischen den Aminosau-ren 771 und 811 von gp130 als Bindungsregion fur die Src-Kinase Hck identifi-ziert. Dieses Bindungsmotiv wurde bisher noch nicht fur gp130 beschrieben. Die Bindung von Hck an gp130 war unabhangig von den benachbarten Bindungsstel-len fur Shp-2 (Y759) und STAT3 (Y767, Y814). In faktor-abhangig wachsenden Baf-B03 Zellen resultierte die Deletion der Hck-Bindungsdomane (d 771-811) in einem deutlich reduzierten Wachstum nach Stimulation von gp130. Die Aktivitat der Src-Kinase Hck war in d-771-811 Transfektanten im Vergleich zu wt gp130 exprimierenden Zellen (Eg) deutlich reduziert. In d 771-811 exprimierenden Zel-len war auserdem die Aktivierung von Erk sowie die Deaktivierung und Dephosphorylierung von Pyk2 unterbrochen. Daher scheint der Signalweg an dem Hck beteiligt ist einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die Vermittlung von Wachstumssignalen, die uber gp130 stimuliert werden, zu besitzen. Zur Zeit werden die weiteren Signale untersucht, die durch uber den Hck/gp130-Komplex vermittelt werden. Da IL-6 der ein wesentlicher Wachstumsfaktor in der Entstehung des Plasmozy-toms und die Expansion von fruhen hamatopoetischen Vorlauferzellen ist, sollen diese Untersuchungen zur Identifizierung krankheits-relevanter Signalproteine oder -domanen fuhren. Diese Signalproteine wurden dann wichtige Ziele fur eine molekular definierte Therapie des Plasmozytoms darstellen.
Co-design of a MEMS-CMOS autonomous switched oscillator

This work presents the co-design and simulation of a self-excited MEMS-CMOS oscillator. The device consists of an electrostatic MEMS actuator, a DC source and a resistive circuit switched by the actuator's displacement. The MEMS device is modeled after an existing device. A CMOS circuit is proposed for the displacement detection and the switching mechanism. The oscillator is capable of sustaining oscillations autonomously and exhibiting periodic and aperiodic behavior. The proposed oscillator can process electronic as well as nonelectronic information. The oscillator behavior is highly sensitive to stimuli which makes it a good candidate to be used as an enhanced sensor or in systems of coupled oscillators.
DAoT: Dynamic and energy-aware authentication for smart home appliances in Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is beneficial to individuals, business, and society because it creates a wide range of value-added services by interconnecting diverse devices and information objects. However, as IoT devices have resource constraints to employ powerful security mechanisms, they are vulnerable to sophisticated security attacks such as the main-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. Therefore, an intelligent authentication mechanism that considers both resource constraints and security is required. In this paper, we suggest a dynamic and energy-aware authentication scheme for the Internet of Things (DAoT). DAoT uses a feedback control scheme to dynamically select an energy-efficient authentication policy. With DAoT, IoT devices with limited resources can be safely interconnected because DAoT finds and adopts the best cost-effective authentication mechanism.
Rapid Screening of Recombinant Plasmids by Direct Colony Quantitative Real-Time PCR

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was applied to rapid screening of positive plasmid clones. Insert-specific primer pairs were used in qPCR colony screening, and false positive colonies could easily be distinguished from true positive ones by comparing their Ct values. In addition, qPCR is particularly suitable when amplicon is small (<150 bp). This method is sensitive, simple and fast, obviates the need for gel electrophoresis, and is a cost-effective alternative to the traditional PCR approach.
Dimension Reduction Using Spatial and Spectral Regularized Local Discriminant Embedding for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Dimension reduction (DR) is a necessary and helpful preprocessing for hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. In this paper, we propose a spatial and spectral regularized local discriminant embedding (SSRLDE) method for DR of hyperspectral data. In SSRLDE, hyperspectral pixels are first smoothed by the multiscale spatial weighted mean filtering. Then, the local similarity information is described by integrating a spectral-domain regularized local preserving scatter matrix and a spatial-domain local pixel neighborhood preserving scatter matrix. Finally, the optimal discriminative projection is learned by minimizing a local spatial-spectral scatter and maximizing a modified total data scatter. Experimental results on benchmark hyperspectral data sets show that the proposed SSRLDE significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art DR methods for HSI classification.
The structure of a membrane fusion mutant of the influenza virus haemagglutinin.

The haemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA) of influenza virus specifically mediates fusion of the viral and host cell endosomal membranes at the acidic pH of endosomes. The HAs from mutant viruses with raised fusion pH optima contain amino acid substitutions in regions of the HA structure thought to be involved in the fusion process [Daniels et al. (1985b) Cell, 40, 431‐439]. We have determined the neutral pH crystal structure of one such mutant, HA2 112 Asp‐‐‐‐Gly. A water molecule appears to partially replace the aspartate side chain, and no changes are observed in the surrounding structure. It appears that four intra‐chain hydrogen bonds that stabilize the location of the N‐terminus of HA2 are lost in the mutant, resulting in a local destabilization that facilitates the extrusion of the N‐terminus at higher pH.
Studies on the Pathogenesis of Swine Dysentery

Swine dysentery was induced in pigs and in ligated colonic segments by inoculation of pure cultures of, or colonic contents containing, Treponema hyodysenteriae. The mildest changes, best seen in ligated segments 48 or 72 hours after inoculation, were congestion and leucocytic margination in mucosal capillaries and depletion of mucigen from goblet cells lining the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn. Superficial mucosal necrosis and crypt cell hyperplasia were later changes. Perfusion studies with India ink did not demonstrate occlusive mucosal ischemia in acute swine dysentery. Mucosa with lesions of swine dysentery contained at least 105 colony forming units of T. hyodysenteriae per gram. Mucosa without lesions had 105 or fewer T. hyodysenteriae per gram. Segments with acute swine dysentery were distended with clear mucoid fluid with electrolyte composition indicative of net colonic secretion. No increase in the concentration of volatile fatty acids was detected in content from intact colons or colonic segments with lesions of acute swine dysentery.
Disruption of Axonal Transport in Motor Neuron Diseases

Motor neurons typically have very long axons, and fine-tuning axonal transport is crucial for their survival. The obstruction of axonal transport is gaining attention as a cause of neuronal dysfunction in a variety of neurodegenerative motor neuron diseases. Depletions in dynein and dynactin-1, motor molecules regulating axonal trafficking, disrupt axonal transport in flies, and mutations in their genes cause motor neuron degeneration in humans and rodents. Axonal transport defects are among the early molecular events leading to neurodegeneration in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Gene expression profiles indicate that dynactin-1 mRNA is downregulated in degenerating spinal motor neurons of autopsied patients with sporadic ALS. Dynactin-1 mRNA is also reduced in the affected neurons of a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, a motor neuron disease caused by triplet CAG repeat expansion in the gene encoding the androgen receptor. Pathogenic androgen receptor proteins also inhibit kinesin-1 microtubule-binding activity and disrupt anterograde axonal transport by activating c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Disruption of axonal transport also underlies the pathogenesis of spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary spastic paraplegias. These observations suggest that the impairment of axonal transport is a key event in the pathological processes of motor neuron degeneration and an important target of therapy development for motor neuron diseases.
Proposal for an optomechanical traveling wave phonon–photon translator

In this paper, we describe a general optomechanical system for converting photons to phonons in an efficient and reversible manner. We analyze classically and quantum mechanically the conversion process and proceed to a more concrete description of a phonon–photon translator (PPT) formed from coupled photonic and phononic crystal planar circuits. The application of the PPT to RF-microwave photonics and circuit QED, including proposals utilizing this system for optical wavelength conversion, long-lived quantum memory and state transfer from optical to superconducting qubits, is considered.
Psychobiology and Behavioral Strategies Parents ’ Activity-Related Parenting Practices Predict Girls ’ Physical Activity

DAVISON, K. K. , T. M. CUTTING, and L. L. BIRCH. Parents’ Activity-Related Parenting Practices Predict Girls’ Physical Activity. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. , Vol. 35, No. 9, pp. 1589–1595, 2003. Purpose: Using a sample of 180 9-yr-old girls and their parents, this study examined (a) parents’ activity-related parenting strategies and similarities and differences in such strategies for mothers and fathers, and (b) links between activity-related parenting strategies and girls’ physical activity patterns. Methods: Measures of girls’ physical activity included the Children’s Physical Activity scale, participation in organized sports, and physical fitness. We developed a questionnaire to assess ways in which parents promote physical activity among their children. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified two factors for each parent including logistic support of girls’ activity (i.e., enrolling girls in sports and driving them to events) and parents’ explicit modeling (i.e., the extent to which parents used their own behavior to encourage their daughters to be active). Mothers reported significantly higher levels of logistic support than fathers, whereas fathers reported higher levels of explicit modeling than mothers. Although mothers and fathers tended to report different methods of support, both methods were associated with higher physical activity among girls. Finally, girls reported significantly higher levels of physical activity when at least one parent reported high levels of overall support in comparison to no parents; no significant differences were identified for support from one versus two parents. Conclusion: Results from this study indicate the positive contribution that parents can have on activity practices of their young daughters.
Monolayer strain by NEMS for low power application

Summary form only given. In recent years, two dimensional (2D) materials have attracted much attention due to its potential to overcome the roadblocks of electronics miniaturization and follow Moore's law. These materials consist of atoms covalently bonded along one plane and weakly bonded with its neighboring planes via van der Waal forces [1]. This property allows these materials to be mechanically cleaved or exfoliated in mono- or multilayers. Graphene is one of the most studied 2D materials due to its high mobility, strength and flexibility. But the lack of a band gap of this semi-metal material has limited its application in digital electronics [2]. Fortunately the transition-metal di-chalcogenides (TMD) in the form of 2D layers have been shown to possess a band gap. One example is MoS2 which consists of one plane of Mo atoms sandwiched between two planes of S atoms. Interestingly, the band gap in MoS2 monolayers and multilayers can be modulated by mechanical strain as reported theoretically [3] and experimentally [4]. A 1.9% compressive strain increases the band gap from 1.73 eV to 1.86 eV and changes it from direct to indirect. Moreover, an 11% tensile strain causes the band gap energy to be zero; essentially making the MoS2 to transition from semiconductor to metallic [3]. The demonstrations of heterojunctions with useful electronic properties [5] and even MOSFET devices [2] have illuminated the potential of MoS2 to create electronic devices beyond CMOS. However the strain effect on the band gap of MoS2 has not been fully explored for electro-mechanical devices. For example nano-electromechanical (NEM) switches offer an avenue for low-power electronics due to their minimal or zero “off” current and steep switching. However, two significant problems in the NEMs devices are mechanical fatigue and the adhesive force between the contacts. In this work, a MoS2 monolayer is used in a NEMs cantilever to achieve a low-voltage switching device that exploits the strain effect on the band gap. Essentially the NEMs cantilever strains the MoS2 monolayer and causes its bandgap to change from semiconducting to conducting.
Spectral Behavior of the Ocean Surface Backscatter and the Atmospheric Boundary Layer at C- and Ku-band under High wind and Rain Conditions

During the NOAA/NESDIS 2005 Hurricane Season (HS2005) and the 2006 Winter Experiment, the University of Massachusetts (UMass) installed two instruments on the NOAA N42RF WP-3D research aircraft: the Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (IWRAP) and the Simultaneous Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR). IWRAP is a dual-band (C- and Ku), dual-polarized pencil- beam airborne radar that profiles the volume backscatter and Doppler velocity from rain and that also measures the ocean backscatter response. It simultaneously profiles along four separate incidence angles while conically scanning at 60 RPM. SFMR is a C-band nadir viewing radiometer that measures the emission from the ocean surface and intervening atmosphere simultaneously at six frequencies. It is designed to obtain the surface wind speed and the column average rain rate. Both instruments have previously been flown during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 hurricane seasons. For the HS2005, the IWRAP system was modified to implement a raw data acquisition system. The importance of the raw data system arises when trying to profile the atmosphere all the way down to the surface with a non- nadir looking radar system. With this particular geometry, problems arise mainly from the fact that both rain and ocean provide a return echo coincident in time through the antenna's main lobe. This paper shows how this limitation has been removed and presents initial results demonstrating its new capabilities to derive the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind field within the inner core of hurricanes to much lower altitudes than the ones the original system was capable of, and to analyze the spectral response of the ocean backscatter and the rain under different wind and rain conditions.