Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of P 2 u Purinergic or a 1 A Adrenergic Receptors Mobilizes Ca 2 + in Lens Cells

Purpose. To identify agonists that elevate cytosolic Ca (Cap) in lens cells and to characterize their mechanism of action. Methods. Digital imaging and the Ca-reporting dye fura-2 were used to study the effects of agonists and their antagonists on Caf in sheep lens primary cell cultures. Results. Exposing cells to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and epinephrine increased Caf, whereas dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine, histamine, kassinin, bradykinin, and glutamate did not elevate Caf. The ATP response was mediated by P2u purinergic receptors based on inhibition by the P2 antagonist suramin and the agonist rank potency order ATP = UTP = ATP7S > ADP > AMP > adenosine; adenine, AMP-CPP, and AMP-PCP were inactive. The epinephrine response was mediated by c*i adrenergic receptors based on the greater potency of the <X\ adrenergic selective antagonist prazosin compared to that of the a2 adrenergic selective antagonist yohimbine. More specifically, the epinephrine response was mediated by the a]A adrenergic receptor subtype based on the greater potencies exhibited by the a1A subtype selective competitive antagonists WB 4101 and 5-methylurapidil compared to die a1B and a1D selective antagonists spiperone and BMY 7378, respectively. The agonist-mediated Caf increase was dependent on intracellular Ca stores and was inhibited by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. ATP or epinephrine could desensitize the cells to either agonist because of both the depletion of intracellular Ca stores and the downregulation of a common intermediate in the signal transduction pathway. Conclusions. Ca is mobilized from intracellular stores in the sheep lens by ATP and epinephrine acting through P2U purinergic and the a1A adrenergic receptors, respectively. This confirms previous reports of P2u receptors in lens and provides the first report of «IA adrenergic receptors in the lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997;38:855-865.
rab7 Activity Affects Epidermal Growth Factor:Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Degradation by Regulating Endocytic Trafficking from the Late Endosome*

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family. Ligand (epidermal growth factor or EGF) binding to the EGFR results in the coordinated activation and integration of biochemical signaling events to mediate cell growth, migration, and differentiation. One mechanism the cell utilizes to orchestrate these events is ligand-mediated endocytosis through the canonical clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Identification of proteins that regulate the intracellular movement of the EGF·EGFR complex is an important first step in dissecting how specificity of EGFR signaling is conferred. We examined the role of the small molecular weight guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) rab7 as a regulator of the distal stages of the endocytic pathway. Through the transient expression of activating and inactivating mutants of rab7 in HeLa cells, we have determined that rab7 activity directly correlates with the rate of radiolabeled EGF and EGFR degradation. Furthermore, when inhibitory mutants of rab7 are expressed, the internalized EGF·EGFR complex accumulates in high-density endosomes that are characteristic of the late endocytic pathway. Thus, we conclude that rab7 regulates the endocytic trafficking of the EGF·EGFR complex by regulating its lysosomal degradation.
Surgical Outcome of Spinal Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastases

BACKGROUND:Spinal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastases are increasing with improved survival of patients with HCC. However, its treatment outcome, particularly regarding functional outcome, has not been adequately investigated. OBJECTIVE:To present the surgical outcome of spinal HCC metastases and demonstrate prognostic factors for survival and ambulation time. METHODS:Thirty-three patients (30 males, 3 females) were retrospectively reviewed. Child-Pugh classification was used to assess hepatic function. Preoperatively, 19 patients could ambulate (group A) and 14 patients could not (group B). Preoperatively, 18 patients received conventional fractionated radiotherapy. RESULTS:The spinal metastases were removed to achieve sufficient neural decompression. If destabilization developed, instrumentation and/or vertebroplasty were performed. Postoperatively, conventional radiotherapy was administered to 13 patients. Patients survived for 203 ± 31 days. Child-Pugh classification and preoperative/postoperative ambulatory ability were correlated with survival time, with Child-Pugh classification being the most significant factor (hazard ratio, 3.75; 95% confidence interval: 1.38-10.22). After the operation, ambulatory ability was maintained in all group A patients and was recovered in 4 in group B. Twenty-three patients could ambulate for 285 ± 62 days. Preoperative ambulatory status and Child-Pugh classification were correlated with a longer ambulatory period, with preoperative ambulatory status most significant (hazard ratio, 8.62; 95% confidence interval: 2.39-31.04). Patients died 81 ± 71 days after the loss of ambulatory ability, regardless of postoperative ambulatory status. CONCLUSION:In spinal HCC metastasis, ambulatory status and hepatic function were significantly correlated with survival and ambulation time. Both ambulatory status and hepatic function should be considered in the selection of surgical candidates.
The Teotihuacan Mapping Project

Abstract A detailed map of Teotihuacán is being prepared through the use of photogrammetry and ground survey. The city's maximum limits have been circumscribed, and it appears that they surround an area of more than 10 square miles. Part of this area was occupied only during the first phase of the occupation of Teotihuacán (Tzacualli) in the Pre-Classic period; Tzacualli phase Teotihuacán appears to have covered an area of approximately 3 square miles. The maximum area reached by the city during its later phases appears to be close to 9 square miles, but how much of this area was actually occupied during any one period of time remains to be determined. The central 4.5 square miles of the city seem to have been subject to extensive planning (grid pattern, streets, and blocks of uniform size). Teotihuacán appeared as a settlement of great size in the Pre-Classic period and grew to mammoth proportions during the Classic period. No population estimates are yet possible. The Ciudadela now appears to have occupied a central rather than a southerly position in the city. Several Early Classic period Maya pottery fragments were found near the city's eastern border in the immediate vicinity of Tlamimilolpa where similar fragments had previously been found by Linné.
In situ mixed region vapor stripping in low-permeability media. 3. Modeling of field tests.

A model was developed to simulate in situ mixed region vapor stripping process for removal of volatile organic compounds from fine-textured soils. The model consists of a thermal response submodel for simulating temperature, moisture content, and exhaust gas flow rate changes in the zone being treated and a mass transfer submodel for predicting the removal of a linearly sorbing, dissolved contaminant. The treatment zone was assumed to be completely mixed. Model parameters were obtained independently from measurements and literature correlations where possible. Calibration of first-order mass transfer rates and energy input (via soil mixing and high-pressure gas injection) was completed using the results of a full-scale field test. The calibrated thermal submodel predicted temperature changes observed in three other field tests. The model could simulate contaminant mass removal rates for the three independent tests. The mass transfer rates, ranging between 0.0009 and 0.0015 s -1 , were independent of temperature up to at least 30°C but appeared to be dependent on the frequency of contact between the mixing blades and various soil depths.
Alkaloids and acetogenins in Annonaceae development: biological considerations

Chemical studies of the plant family Annonaceae have intensified in the last several decades due to the discovery of annonaceous molecules with medicinal potential (e.g., benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and acetogenins). Approximately 500 alkaloids have been identified in 138 Annonaceae species in 43 genera. In addition, until 2004, 593 annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) had been identified, from 51 species in 13 genera.This suggests that plants from this family allocate important resources to the biosynthesis of these compounds. Despite the diversity of these molecules, their biological roles, including their physiological and/or ecological functions, are not well understood. In this study, it was provided new data describing the variety and distribution of certain alkaloids and ACGs in annonaceous plants in distinct stages of development. The potential relationships among some of these compounds and the seasonally climatic changes occurring in the plant habitat are also discussed. These data will improve our understanding of the secondary metabolism of these pharmacologically important molecules and their expression patterns during development, which will help to determine the optimal growth conditions and harvest times for their production.
Academic-Corporate Ties in Biotechnology: A Quantitative Study

The rapid commercialization of applied genetics in the mtd-1970s, accompanied by a sudden rise in academic-corporate partnerships, raised questions about the impacts these linkages have had on the social and professional norms of scientists. The extent and pattern of faculty tnvolvement in commercialization of biological research is largely an unexplored area. This article provcdes a quantitative assessment of the linkages between biology faculty in American uncverscties and the newly formed biotechnology industry. The results of thes study, covering the period 1985-88, show that academic scientists responded en masse to participating in the commercialization of genetecs research by estabhshmg formal associations with many of the new biotechnology compances. A data base consisting of 889 U.S. and Canadian biotechnology companies and 832 sccentcsts who had formal ties to them was developed over a four-year period. The patterns of academic-corporate Icnkages are revealed by institution. Three universities with the most commercially active faculty are Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. Of the 359 bcomedeca! scientists and geneteccsts who were members of the Nateonal Academy of Sceences (en 1988), at minimum, 37% had formal ties with the biotechnology industry.
Resistance mutations reveal the atovaquone‐binding domain of cytochrome b in malaria parasites

Atovaquone represents a class of antimicrobial agents with a broad‐spectrum activity against various parasitic infections, including malaria, toxoplasmosis and Pneumocystis pneumonia. In malaria parasites, atovaquone inhibits mitochondrial electron transport at the level of the cytochrome bc1 complex and collapses mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, this drug is unique in being selectively toxic to parasite mitochondria without affecting the host mitochondrial functions. A better understanding of the structural basis for the selective toxicity of atovaquone could help in designing drugs against infections caused by mitochondria‐containing parasites. To that end, we derived nine independent atovaquone‐resistant malaria parasite lines by suboptimal treatment of mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii; these mutants exhibited resistance to atovaquone‐mediated collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential as well as inhibition of electron transport. The mutants were also resistant to the synergistic effects of atovaquone/ proguanil combination. Sequencing of the mitochondrially encoded cytochrome b gene placed these mutants into four categories, three with single amino acid changes and one with two adjacent amino acid changes. Of the 12 nucleotide changes seen in the nine independently derived mutants 11 replaced A:T basepairs with G:C basepairs, possibly because of reactive oxygen species resulting from atovaquone treatment. Visualization of the resistance‐conferring amino acid positions on the recently solved crystal structure of the vertebrate cytochrome bc1 complex revealed a discrete cavity in which subtle variations in hydrophobicity and volume of the amino acid side‐chains may determine atovaquone‐binding affinity, and thereby selective toxicity. These structural insights may prove useful in designing agents that selectively affect cytochrome bc1 functions in a wide range of eukaryotic pathogens.
What Should be the Approach in the Long-term Management of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?

Objective: The aim of this study is to review available treatment options and to review current opinions in the management of patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Materials and methods: This is a review article. Articles for the literature review were collected by using Google Search Scholar Engine. Literature search included relevant original and review articles addressing issues like medical treatment for GERD, surgical treatment for GERD, studies comparing surgical and medical treatment for GERD. GERD is a common and chronic syndrome. Patients affected with syndrome experience symptoms which affect their quality of life. The goals of treatment in this condition is to control symptoms, heal injured esophageal mucosa and to prevent complications. Both proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and antireflux surgery are equally effective in controlling symptoms and in healing esophageal mucosal injury. In the recent years, laparoscopic surgery is increasingly been offered to patients with GERD. However, there is still controversy over best approach to management of GERD. This study attempted to review current opinions of this issue. Conclusion: PPIs is an option for initial management of GERD. However, this condition been a chronic condition, relapse is common while on therapy with medications or following discontinuation of therapy. Hence, a treatment option which provides effective control of symptoms and prevents or minimizes complications has to be offered to patients. Medical therapy with PPI and laparoscopic antireflux surgery, both can achieve these therapeutic goals. Hence, in the light of this literature review it is recommended to individualize the treatment offered to the patient with GERD, in consultation with the patient himself or herself.
Face synthesis from near-infrared to visual light via sparse representation

This paper presents a novel method for synthesizing artificial visual light (VIS) face images from near-infrared (NIR) inputs. Active NIR imaging is now widely employed because it is unobtrusive, invariant of environmental illuminations, and can penetrate glasses and sweats. Unfortunately, NIR imaging exhibits discrepant photic properties compared with VIS imaging. Based on recent results of research on compressive sensing, natural images can be compressed and recovered with an overcomplete dictionary by sparse representation coefficients. In our approach a pairwise dictionary is trained from randomly sampled coupled face patches, which contains sparse coded base functions to reconstruct representation coefficients via l1-minimization. We will demonstrate that this method is robust to moderate pose and expression variations, and is efficient in computing. Comparative experiments are conducted with state-of-the-art algorithms.
Selection of Peptide Ligands That Bind to Acid Fibroblast Growth Factor

Acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) binds to its cell‐surface receptors in a heparin‐dependent manner. In an attempt to define the aFGF recognition site on fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), we developed a screening strategy for identifying FGF ligands that bind to the receptor‐binding region of FGF. To retain the natural conformation of aFGF during screening, we used biotinylated heparin to immobilize aFGF on a streptavidincoated dish. A 15‐mer phage display peptide library was then screened in the dish and a group of related peptide sequences was identified. These peptide sequences contain two conserved motifs, SSG and VPS, corresponding to two protein sequences of the immunoglobulin‐like (Ig‐like) domain II of FGFR1 at amino acids 180‐182 and 221‐223 (CPSSG‐VPSDKGNYTC). Further experiments demonstrate that the phage displaying these sequences can specifically bind to aFGF and that the synthesized peptide corresponding in sequence can inhibit mitogenic activity of aFGF.These sequences may thus constitute part of the aFGF‐binding region on FGFR1, and the synthesized peptide has the potential to become a therapeutic agent as an aFGF antagonist.
Nonacog gamma, a novel recombinant factor IX with low factor IXa content for treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding episodes

Nonacog gamma is a new recombinant factor IX to treat factor IX deficiency. It is indicated for control of bleeding episodes, perioperative management and routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adults and children with hemophilia B. Nonacog gamma was first approved in the USA in June 2013 under the trade name RIXUBIS followed by market approvals in Australia and the EU in 2014, and marketing authorization decision is pending in Japan. Nonacog gamma is derived from a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line using a state of the art biotechnological manufacturing process. Recombinant factor IX is produced by Baxter’s protein-free fermentation technology, which was first developed for ADVATE. The product is purified and formulated in the absence of any human or animal-derived protein. Nonacog gamma was characterized both in comprehensive in vitro and in vivo non-clinical studies as well as in an extensive clinical trial program.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in schizophrenia: ready for practice or a good start? A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Mounting evidence suggests that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This evidence implies that anti-inflammatory agents are potentially useful therapeutic strategies in schizophrenia. This article quantitatively summarizes the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to augment antipsychotic treatment to reduce schizophrenia symptom severity. DATA SOURCES An electronic search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, the National Institutes of Health Web site clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Schizophrenia Group entries in PsiTri, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The following basic search terms were used: schizophrenia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and NSAID together with the name of each specific NSAID (ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen sodium, and acetylsalicylic acid). We applied no year or language restrictions. STUDY SELECTION Studies were selected if they met the following inclusion criteria: (1) randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials regarding augmentation of antipsychotic medication with an NSAID, (2) patients included had a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and (3) studies reported sufficient information to compute common effect size statistics, or corresponding authors could supply these data upon request. DATA EXTRACTION The primary outcome measure was the mean change in total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Secondary outcome measures included positive and negative symptom subscores of the PANSS. RESULTS We could include 5 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials, reporting on 264 patients. Four studies applied celecoxib, and 1 used acetylsalicylic acid. We found a mean effect size of 0.43, which was significant at P = . 02 in favor of NSAIDs on total symptom severity. For positive symptom severity, the mean standardized difference was 0.34 (P = .02). For severity of negative symptoms the mean standardized difference was 0.26 (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that NSAID augmentation could be a potentially useful strategy to reduce symptom severity in schizophrenia. As these are the first studies on a relatively new strategy and the included sample size is modest, these results should be interpreted with caution. However, augmentation with acetylsalicylic acid may have the additional benefit of reducing cardiac and cancer mortality in schizophrenia. We therefore believe that application of NSAIDs in schizophrenia deserves further investigation as augmentation of antipsychotic treatment and reducing comorbid somatic diseases.
Mass spectral comparison of the neuropeptide complement of the stomatogastric ganglion and brain in the adult and embryonic lobster, Homarus americanus

Neuropeptides in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) and the brain of adult and late embryonic Homarus americanus were compared using a multi‐faceted mass spectral strategy. Overall, 29 neuropeptides from 10 families were identified in the brain and/or the STG of the lobster. Many of these neuropeptides are reported for the first time in the embryonic lobster. Neuropeptide extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry enabled confident identification of 24 previously characterized peptides in the adult brain and 13 peptides in the embryonic brain. Two novel peptides (QDLDHVFLRFa and GPPSLRLRFa) were de novo sequenced. In addition, a comparison of adult to embryonic brains revealed the presence of an incompletely processed form of Cancer borealis tachykinin‐related peptide 1a (CabTRP 1a, APSGFLGMRG) only in the embryonic brain. A comparison of adult to embryonic STGs revealed that QDLDHVFLRFa was present in the embryonic STG but absent in the adult STG, and CabTRP 1a exhibited the opposite trend. Relative quantification of neuropeptides in the STG revealed that three orcokinin family peptides (NFDEIDRSGFGF, NFDEIDRSGFGFV, and NFDEIDRSGFGFN), a B‐type allatostatin (STNWSSLRSAWa), and an orcomyotropin‐related peptide (FDAFTTGFGHS) exhibited higher signal intensities in the adult relative to the embryonic STG. RFamide (Arg‐Phe‐amide) family peptide (DTSTPALRLRFa), [Val1]SIFamide (VYRKPPFNGSIFa), and orcokinin‐related peptide (VYGPRDIANLY) were more intense in the embryonic STG spectra than in the adult STG spectra. Collectively, this study expands our current knowledge of the H. americanus neuropeptidome and highlights some intriguing expression differences that occur during development.
Single-cell photovoltaic with integrated converter

Dust and shade have severe effects on the output of Photovoltaic (PV) modules especially in urban area. This problem is a major issue in order to achieve low cost and high efficiency PV system. This paper proposes a Power Conditioning System (PCS) suitable for PV module using single-cell architecture. The Ripple Correlation Control (RCC) has been employed to harvest the maximum cell power with 1 MHz switching frequency. This high switching frequency gives the advantage of decreasing the whole PCS components size drastically through applying integration techniques. This also enables to attach the developed integrated PCS into the PV cell itself. The paper provides PCS components design and simulation results as well as demonstrates the proposed idea.