Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Membrane Lipid Organization Is Critical for Human Neutrophil Polarization*

In response to chemoattractants neutrophils extend an actin-rich pseudopod, which imparts morphological polarity and is required for migration. Even when stimulated by an isotropic bath of chemoattractant, neutrophils exhibit persistent polarization and continued lamellipod formation at the front, suggesting that the cells establish an internal polarity. In this report, we show that perturbing lipid organization by depleting plasma membrane cholesterol levels reversibly inhibits cell polarization and migration. Among other receptor-mediated responses, β2 integrin up-regulation was unaffected, and initial calcium mobilization was only partially reduced by cholesterol depletion, indicating that this treatment did not abrogate initial receptor-mediated signal transduction. Interestingly, cholesterol depletion did not prevent initial activation of the GTPase Rac or an initial burst of actin polymerization, but rather it inhibited prolonged activation of Rac and sustained actin polymerization. Collectively, these findings support a model in which the plasma membrane is organized into domains that aid in amplifying the chemoattractant gradient and maintaining cell polarization.
Pharmacological or Genetic Activation of Hsp70 Protects against Loss of Parkin Function

Mutations of parkin are a prevalent genetic contributor to familial Parkinson's disease (PD). As a key regulator of protein and mitochondrial homeostasis, parkin plays a pivotal role in maintaining dopaminergic neuronal survival. However, whereas Drosophila parkin null mutants exhibit prominent parkinsonian features, parkin-deficient mice generally lack an overt phenotype. Here, we found that the expression of Hsp70 along with several other members of the chaperone family is elevated in parkin null mice, suggesting a possible compensatory mechanism for the loss of parkin function in these mice that could have masked their phenotype. Supporting this, we demonstrate that the enhancement of chaperone function induced either pharmacologically via 17-AAG treatment or genetically via Hsp70 overexpression can protect cells against proteolytic and mitochondrial stress in a manner that is similar to that brought about by parkin overexpression. Importantly, we further showed that enhanced chaperone activity can ameliorate the pathological phenotypes in Drosophila parkin null mutants, which suggests the ability of chaperones to phenocopy parkin function. Taken together, our results suggest that Hsp members may act as compensatory factors for parkin loss of function and that the exploitation of these factors may be of potential therapeutic value.
Molecular Definition of a Novel Human Galectin Which Is Immunogenic in Patients with Hodgkin's Disease*

Using autologous serum for the immunoscreening of a cDNA expression library derived from tissue involved by Hodgkin's disease, a new 36-kDa protein with the characteristics of galectins (S-type lectins) was detected. Sequence analysis of the cDNA clone HOM-HD-21 revealed two homologous motifs known as lectin domains with galactoside binding capacity. The two domains are linked by a stretch of about 30 amino acid residues and share a sequence homology of 39%. While the N-terminal lectin domain shows merely moderate homologies with known galectins, the C-terminal lectin domain is highly homologous to rat galectin-5 with an amino acid sequence identity of 70%. We ruled out mutations of the tumor-derived transcript by sequence comparison with the respective cDNA cloned from normal peripheral blood leukocytes. Recombinant protein expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was purified from lysates by lactose and galactose affinity chromatography, proving the galactoside binding capacity of this new galectin. Northern blot analysis revealed an expression spectrum restricted to peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphatic tissues. In accordance with the nomenclature of known galectins, we suggest to designate this novel galactoside binding protein galectin-9.
Effects of European foulbrood treatment regime on oxytetracycline levels in honey extracted from treated honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies and toxicity to brood

This study aimed to assess oxytetracycline (OTC) residue levels in honey up to 12 weeks after treatment of honeybee colonies with two methods of application (in liquid sucrose and in powdered icing sugar). Significantly greater mortality was seen in the all stages of brood development for the treated colonies when compared with the controls. Samples of honey were extracted up to 12 weeks after treatment and analysed by HPLC following metal chelation with a limit of quantitation of 0.05 mg/kg. These data showed that the current method of application of Terramycin in liquid form results in very high residue levels in honey with residues of 3.7 mg/kg eight weeks after application. Further work is required to determine whether the levels can be further reduced by changes in the method of application whilst ensuring efficacy and minimizing the effects on brood.
Requirement for Akt (Protein Kinase B) in Insulin-induced Activation of Glycogen Synthase and Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 (PHAS-1)*

The roles of Akt (protein kinase B) and the atypical λ isoform of protein kinase C (PKCλ), both of which act downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, in the activation of glycogen synthase and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 (PHAS-1) in response to insulin were investigated. A mutant Akt (Akt-AA) in which the phosphorylation sites targeted by growth factors are replaced by alanine was shown to inhibit insulin-induced activation of both Akt and glycogen synthase in L6 myotubes. Expression of a mutant Akt in which Lys179 in the kinase domain was replaced by aspartate also inhibited insulin-induced activation of glycogen synthase but had no effect on insulin activation of endogenous Akt. A kinase-defective mutant of PKCλ (λΔNKD), which prevents insulin-induced activation of PKCλ, did not affect the activation of glycogen synthase by insulin. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was inhibited by Akt-AA in Chinese hamster ovary cells. However, λΔNKD had no effect on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation induced by insulin. These data suggest that Akt, but not PKCλ, is required for insulin activation of glycogen synthase and for insulin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1.
De la circulation des nourritures.. La perpétuation et l’extension des liens sociaux des migrants mexicains via l’approvisionnement en produits alimentaires

Tout en provoquant une rupture avec le reseau social d’origine et un isolement plus ou moins consequent et plus ou moins temporaire, la migration produit une intense activite sociale compensatoire(i.e. les echanges de services et de biens). Dans ce texte, je m’interesse a l’echange de nourritures entre les migrants mixteques originaires de l’Etat de Oaxaca, dans le sud du Mexique, qui vivent et/ou se deplacent en Basse Californie (Mexique) et en Californie (Etats-Unis). Je me propose d’interroger les modalites de maintien et d’extension des reseaux sociaux a travers les dons et le commerce alimentaire, avec pour objectif l’analyse de la reproduction sociale et identitaire dans un contexte de migration.
The PYRIN domain: A member of the death domain‐fold superfamily

PYRIN domains were identified recently as putative protein–protein interaction domains at the N‐termini of several proteins thought to function in apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathways. The ∼95 residue PYRIN domains have no statistically significant sequence homology to proteins with known three‐dimensional structure. Using secondary structure prediction and potential‐based fold recognition methods, however, the PYRIN domain is predicted to be a member of the six‐helix bundle death domain‐fold superfamily that includes death domains (DDs), death effector domains (DEDs), and caspase recruitment domains (CARDs). Members of the death domain‐fold superfamily are well established mediators of protein–protein interactions found in many proteins involved in apoptosis and inflammation, indicating further that the PYRIN domains serve a similar function. An homology model of the PYRIN domain of CARD7/DEFCAP/NAC/NALP1, a member of the Apaf‐1/Ced‐4 family of proteins, was constructed using the three‐dimensional structures of the FADD and p75 neurotrophin receptor DDs, and of the Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 CARDs, as templates. Validation of the model using a variety of computational techniques indicates that the fold prediction is consistent with the sequence. Comparison of a circular dichroism spectrum of the PYRIN domain of CARD7/DEFCAP/NAC/NALP1 with spectra of several proteins known to adopt the death domain‐fold provides experimental support for the structure prediction.
Multiple Visual Cues , Receiver Psychology , and Signal Evolution in Pygmy Swordtails

Viviparous Fishes II Mari Carmen Uribe and Harry J. Grier, book editors. New Life Publications, Homestead, Florida, 2010. p 13-30 Multiple Visual Cues, Receiver Psychology, and Signal Evolution in Pygmy Swordtails Gil G. Rosenthal and Michael J. Ryan 1Department of Biology, Texas A&M University; 2Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, USA. t Females typically attend to complex, multidimensional suites of traits when evaluating mates. There have been relatively few studies addressing how females evaluate and integrate multiple male signal components. We analyzed a large data set of simultaneous mate choice trials on female Xiphophorus multilineatus and X. pygmaeus, in which females chose between male signal combinations rendered on three-dimensional computer animations of males. Stimuli were based on population samples of two distinct male morphs: large, courting males, and small, “sneaker” males. Traits were selectively removed from large males and presented against a standard large male animation, or added to small males and presented against a standard small male. We addressed how female responses to these multivariate male trait complexes are correlated within individual females, how females weight different traits, and how trait context (traits removed from a small male or added to a large male) influences female response. Intra-female correlations among responses were not detected, and correlations across traits overall were weak. In general, females exhibited directional preferences for male traits, and the influence of each trait on female preference was consistent with additivity. There was no overall relationship between the context in which a trait was presented and female preference.
Brain Tissue Conductivity Reconstruction Based on Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Simulation Study

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) is used to reconstruct the conductivities of the brain tissues, including the isotropic CSF, gray matter and the anisotropic white matter. The target conductivity of the anisotropic white matter is based on the data from Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A series of computer simulation results suggest the feasibility of the proposed RBF-MREIT algorithm and its fast convergence feature together with improved robustness against noise.
Bridgeless Boost Rectifier With Low Conduction Losses and Reduced Diode Reverse-Recovery Problems

A bridgeless boost rectifier with low conduction losses and reduced diode reverse-recovery problems is proposed for power-factor correction. The proposed boost rectifier can reduce the conduction losses and alleviate the diode reverse-recovery problems by using a coupled inductor and two additional diodes. Zero-current turn-off of the output diodes is achieved, and the reverse-recovery currents of the additional diodes are slowed down to reduce the diode reverse-recovery losses. All inductive components are realized on a single magnetic core by utilizing the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor. Furthermore, for the use of this topology in the practical design, the linear peak current mode control is employed for the proposed boost rectifier. A detailed analysis and a control strategy are presented. Experimental results for a 300-W prototype are also discussed to show the performance of the proposed boost rectifier
Phase Noise of Pulse Injection-Locked Oscillators

Sub-harmonic pulse injection-locked oscillators are becoming attractive candidates for the design of clock multipliers and as building blocks of phase-locked loops. Unfortunately, due to the large amplitude of the injected signals, these circuits cannot be analyzed with conventional methods and very-time-consuming simulations are needed to determine their phase noise performance. Phase-noise simulations are particularly critical when the ratio N between the output and the injection frequency gets large. To address the above issue, this paper provides an efficient computation flow to derive the phase noise of pulse injection-locked oscillators. The flow simply requires the computation of the phase-domain response and the phase noise of the free-running oscillator. An analytical expression, herewith demonstrated and compared against commercial simulation tools, allows calculating the phase noise of the injection-locked oscillator for any frequency ratio N.
L-Type Calcium Channels: On the Fast Track to Nuclear Signaling

In excitation-transcription coupling, some calcium signals are more efficient than others. Calcium signaling resulting from depolarization of neurons can trigger changes in transcription, and this response has been called excitation-transcription (E-T) coupling. In neurons, voltage-gated and ligand-gated calcium-permeable channels contribute to the increase in intracellular calcium. It appears that calcium signals mediated by specific voltage-gated calcium channels may have distinct roles in E-T coupling.
Sound Velocities of Hot Dense Iron: Birch's Law Revisited

Sound velocities of hexagonal close-packed iron (hcp-Fe) were measured at pressures up to 73 gigapascals and at temperatures up to 1700 kelvin with nuclear inelastic x-ray scattering in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The compressional-wave velocities (VP) and shear-wave velocities (VS) of hcp-Fe decreased significantly with increasing temperature under moderately high pressures. VP and VS under high pressures and temperatures thus cannot be fitted to a linear relation, Birch's law, which has been used to extrapolate measured sound velocities to densities of iron in Earth's interior. This result means that there are more light elements in Earth's core than have been inferred from linear extrapolation at room temperature.
A comparison the effects of reflexology and relaxation on the psychological symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs with a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, yet there is not a conclusive cure for this disease. Complementary medicine is a current treatment which seems is effective in relieving symptoms of patients with MS. Therefore, this study is aimed to determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on anxiety, stress, and depression in women with MS. Subjects and Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial that is done on 75 women with MS referred to MS Clinic of Kashani Hospital. After simple non random sampling, participants were randomly assigned by minimization method to three groups: reflexology, relaxation and control (25 patients in each group). In the experimental groups were performed reflexology and relaxation interventions within 4 weeks, twice a week for 40 min and the control group were received only routine treatment as directed by a doctor. Data were collected through depression anxiety and stress scale questionnaire, before, immediately after and 2 months after interventions in all three groups. Chi-square, Kruskal–Wallis, repeated measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test via SPSS version 18 were used to analyze the data (P < 0.05) was considered as significant level. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of anxiety, stress and depression during the different times in the reflexology and relaxation groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology and relaxation in relieving anxiety, stress and depression are effective in women with MS. Hence, these two methods, as effective techniques, can be recommended.
Re-visioning refugee health: the Victorian Immigrant Health Programme

Few published data are available to support the development and management of health services for refugees in developed countries, despite evidence that refugees are at high risk of suffering a wide range of both physical and mental health problems. Meeting the health needs of increasing numbers of refugees worldwide in culturally acceptable and financially feasible ways is a key challenge to our healthcare systems. This paper reports on seven platforms identified in the development of the Victorian Immigrant Health Programme (VIHP) that the VIHP believes should underpin the management and delivery of healthcare to newly arrived refugees. Sharing this information facilitates and promotes essential collaborative work in the field of refugee health, and assists to prevent duplicate efforts, given constraints on resources for refugee healthcare provision in Australia and elsewhere.
Adaptive blind chromatic dispersion estimation and compensation for DSP-based coherent optical systems

A novel feed-back structure blind adaptive chromatic dispersion equalizer for coherent quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) receivers in optical access network is presented. A low complexity chromatic dispersion (CD) error function algorithm precisely equalize chromatic dispersion with high bit error rate (BER) performance.
Active sensing in silicon-based MEMS resonators

Microelectromechanical resonators are advantageous over traditional LC tanks and off-chip quartz crystals due to their high quality factors, small size and low power consumption. FET-sensing has been demonstrated in resonant body transistors (RBTs) to reach an order of magnitude higher frequencies than possible with passive resonators due to the greater sensing efficiency of FET sensing over traditional mechanisms such as capacitive or piezoelectric sensing. This thesis explores FET-sensing in Si-based MEMS resonators with dielectric and piezoelectric materials for design of fully unreleased CMOS-integrated resonators for multi-GHz frequency applications. Monolithic integration of Si-based MEMS resonators into CMOS is critical for commercial applications due to reduced size, weight and parasitics. A vast majority of CMOS-integrated resonators require a release step to freely suspend their vibrating structures, necessitating costly, complex encapsulation methods. This thesis proposes the development of fully unreleased resonators in CMOS using acoustic confinement structures, which may be realized without any post-processing or packaging. These dielectrically driven, FET-sensed resonators may be fabricated at the transistor-level of a standard CMOS process, and are demonstrated upto 11.1 GHz with quality factors (Q) up to 252 with footprints of less than 5μm× 7μm with temperature coefficients of frequency (TCF) < 3 ppm/K. While electrostatic resonators have been primarily explored in this work due to the availability of such dielectric materials in a standard CMOS stack, piezoelectric materials remain popular in commercial MEMS resonators for their high electromechanical coupling factors. Recent years have seen a push towards integration of piezoelectric materials into standard CMOS for switching and memory applications. This work explores the performance improvements arising from the integration of CMOS-ready piezoelectric materials such as AlN into a resonant body transistor. This is shown to improve transduction efficiency for low insertion losses at multi-GHz frequencies, for applications in communications to microprocessor clocking. Thesis Supervisor: Dana Weinstein Title: Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Evaluation of Charge Penetration Between Distributed Multipolar Expansions

A formula to calculate the charge penetration energy that results when two charge densities overlap has been derived for molecules described by an effective fragment potential (EFP). The method has been compared with the ab initio charge penetration, taken to be the difference between the electrostatic energy from a Morokuma analysis and Stone’s Distributed Multipole Analysis. The average absolute difference between the EFP method and the ab initio charge penetration for dimers of methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, DMSO, and dichloromethane at their respective equilibrium geometries is 0.32 kcal mol−1.
Efficacy of Repeat Pulmonary Vein Isolation Procedures in Patients with Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is effective in the treatment of most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Some advocate the addition of linear ablation techniques to improve efficacy; however, previous studies suggest recurrent PV conduction is responsible for AF recurrence. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of repeat PV isolation in patients with recurrent AF after an initial ablation procedure and to determine if any patient characteristics predict failure of repeat PV isolation procedures.
Smart ring: utilizing coverage holes for mobile target tracking

Coverage holes are usually considered as harmful in wireless sensor networks. Many sensor deployment strategies and coverage recovery algorithms have been proposed to improve the sensing coverage and remove detected coverage holes. However, in many situations, full coverage can not be guaranteed or consistently maintained throughout the network lifetime. Moreover, in certain applications, full coverage is not possible or unnecessary. In this paper, we introduce SmartRing, a distributed target tracking strategy that utilizes the coverage holes in sparse network or network partition. Sensor nodes not only act as communication relays, but also take part in aiding path planning of pursuer robot. Sensors forming the ring of a coverage hole gather and provide target information to the pursuer. Once a target is detected, sensor mobility or activity is coordinated such that the pursuer benefits from the variable size of the coverage hole that act as a trap. We perform simulation study to evaluate how feasible and efficient the proposed strategy is running in different modes.