Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
E11/gp38 Selective Expression in Osteocytes: Regulation by Mechanical Strain and Role in Dendrite Elongation

ABSTRACT Within mineralized bone, osteocytes form dendritic processes that travel through canaliculi to make contact with other osteocytes and cells on the bone surface. This three-dimensional syncytium is thought to be necessary to maintain viability, cell-to-cell communication, and mechanosensation. E11/gp38 is the earliest osteocyte-selective protein to be expressed as the osteoblast differentiates into an osteoid cell or osteocyte, first appearing on the forming dendritic processes of these cells. Bone extracts contain large amounts of E11, but immunostaining only shows its presence in early osteocytes compared to more deeply embedded cells, suggesting epitope masking by mineral. Freshly isolated primary osteoblasts are negative for E11 expression but begin to express this protein in culture, and expression increases with time, suggesting differentiation into the osteocyte phenotype. Osteoblast-like cell lines 2T3 and Oct-1 also show increased expression of E11 with differentiation and mineralization. E11 is highly expressed in MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cells compared to osteoblast cell lines and primary osteoblasts. Differentiated, mineralized 2T3 cells and MLO-Y4 cells subjected to fluid flow shear stress show an increase in mRNA for E11. MLO-Y4 cells show an increase in dendricity and elongation of dendrites in response to shear stress that is blocked by small interfering RNA specific to E11. In vivo, E11 expression is also increased by a mechanical load, not only in osteocytes near the bone surface but also in osteocytes more deeply embedded in bone. Maximal expression is observed not in regions of maximal strain but in a region of potential bone remodeling, suggesting that dendrite elongation may be occurring during this process. These data suggest that osteocytes may be able to extend their cellular processes after embedment in mineralized matrix and have implications for osteocytic modification of their microenvironment.
Photoperiod Evidence in the Introduction of Xanthium (Cocklebur) to Australia

North American populations of cocklebur Xanthium strumarium L. are diverse in form and show critical dark periods ranging from 7.75 to 10.75 hours (critical photoperiods of 13.25 to 16.25 hours). South American cockleburs also are diverse in form and response. American cockleburs are adapted to diverse ecosystems, which suggests that they are indigenous. In contrast, the widespread Australian populations known as Noogoora Burr are all of the chinense morphological complex and respond uniformly to photoperiod. Plants from southern Louisiana and Australia are nearly identical in external form and in critical dark period of 10.5 hours. Probably the Australian Noogoora Burr and the Indian monsoon form arrived in their present countries after 1800 as contaminants in cottonseed from the Mississippi Delta region.
Store-Operated Calcium Entry through Orai Is Required for Transcriptional Maturation of the Flight Circuit in Drosophila

Store operated calcium entry (SOCE) is thought to primarily regulate calcium homeostasis in neurons. Subsequent to identification of Orai as the SOCE channel in nonexcitable cells, investigation of Orai function in neurons demonstrated a requirement for SOCE in Drosophila flight. Here, by analysis of an Orai mutant and by controlled expression of a dominant-negative Drosophila Orai transgene, we show that Orai-mediated SOCE is required in dopaminergic interneurons of the flight circuit during pupal development. Expression of dominant-negative Orai in dopaminergic neurons of pupae abolished flight. The loss of Orai-mediated SOCE alters transcriptional regulation of dopaminergic neurons, leading to downregulation of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which is essential for dopamine synthesis, and the dopamine transporter, which is required for dopamine uptake after synaptic release. These studies suggest that modulation of SOCE could serve as a novel mechanism for restoring dopamine levels in dopaminergic neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The specificity of an animal's response to an environmental stimulus is determined in part by the release of neurotransmitters, which are sensed by responding neurons through cognate receptors on their surface. One way by which neurons respond is through release of calcium from intracellular stores followed by store refilling from extracellular calcium sources. This mechanism is called store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). The function of SOCE in neurons has been debated. Here we describe a new function for SOCE in the regulation of neurotransmitter levels in Drosophila flight neurons. This cell-signaling mechanism is required to maintain optimal levels of a key enzyme for dopamine synthesis and may serve as a mechanism for restoring dopamine levels in relevant pathological conditions.
Characterization of proximal colonic lymphoid tissue in the mouse

Here were describe a nodule of lymphoid tissue which was consistently located in the proximal colon of mice approximately 25% of the distance from the cecum to the rectum. Immunohistochemical characterization of this nodule demonstrated that the majority of lymphocytes were relatively immature 14.8+ (B220+), IgM+, Ia+ (specificity 20) B cells some of which were also Ly‐1+. These nodules also possessed an occasional T cell (Thy‐1+, Ly‐1+, Lyt‐2+) aggregate at the periphery. Rare, small areas did not stain for either T or B cell markers. These lymphoid nodules were associated with epithelial cells which stained positively with the ER‐TR4 monoclonal antibody (which also recognizes thymic cortical epithelial cells) and also with ER‐TR6, which has been reported to recognize thymic macrophages or dendritic cells. The overlying colonic epithelium stained intensely with the ER‐TR4 monoclonal antibody. Proximal colonic lymphoid tissue was extremely sensitive to steroid treatment, losing approximately 80% of its mass within 24 hours in response to a single intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg hydrocortisone acetate. This response was similar to that of the thymus and to that reported for the bursa of Fabricius, but unlike that of other gastrointestinal lymphoid aggregates. These results indicated that proximal colonic lymphoid tissue contains a high frequency of relatively immature B cells and may be a primary site of their generation, possibly including some of the Ly‐1+ phenotype. These observations correlate with new evidence suggesting that the allantois participates in the formation of the distal midgut, including its lymphoid components.
Endothelin and angiotensin mediate most glomerular responses to nitric oxide inhibition.

BACKGROUND Endothelin (ET) and angiotensin mediate glomerular responses to systemic nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. Acute systemic NO synthase (NOS) inhibition in the rat causes marked increases in both preglomerular (RA) and efferent arteriolar (RE) resistances and a fall in the glomerular capillary ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf). In contrast, local intrarenal NOS inhibition increases RA, but has no effect on RE while producing a similar Kf lowering effect as seen with systemic NOS inhibition. These studies were designed to assess whether the increase in RE during systemic NOS inhibition is mediated by endogenous ET and whether angiotensin II (Ang II) also contributes. METHODS Micropuncture measurements were made before and during acute systemic NOS inhibition with N-monomethyl L-arginine (NMA) alone, NMA + the nonpeptide ETA and ETB receptor antagonist, bosentan, NMA + the Ang II type 1 receptor blocker, losartan, and NMA during combined bosentan and losartan. RESULTS The falls in single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) and glomerular plasma flow seen with systemic NOS inhibition were prevented by concomitant administration of bosentan and losartan alone and in combination. The increases in systemic blood pressure (BP), glomerular BP (PGC), RA, and RE and the reduction in Kf seen with systemic NOS inhibition were attenuated by either bosentan or losartan. An attenuation in the elevation in total renal vascular resistance seen with systemic NOS inhibition was also observed with bosentan. Combined ET and Ang II type 1 blockade completely prevented the increase in systemic BP, PGC, and RE and the fall in Kf with systemic NOS inhibition, leaving only a very attenuated rise in RA. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that endogenous ET and Ang II partially mediate the glomerular hemodynamic responses (including the increased RE) to acute systemic NOS inhibition. The actions of ET and Ang II are mainly additive, and almost all of the vasoconstrictor responses to acute NOS inhibition are prevented when both vasoconstrictor systems are blocked.
Selected Topics: Aeromedical Emergencies ISOLATED PREHOSPITAL HYPOTENSION AFTER TRAUMATIC INJURIES: A PREDICTOR OF MORTALITY?

e Abstract—In patients with traumatic injuries, prehospital hypotension that resolves by Emergency Department (ED) arrival is of uncertain significance. We examined the impact of prehospital hypotension (PH) in normotensive ED patients with traumatic injuries on predicting mortality and chest/abdominal operative intervention. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of consecutive patients undergoing helicopter transport to two trauma centers between 1993 and 1997. Outcomes were mortality and chest or abdominal operative intervention. Of 545 scene transports, 55 (10.1%) patients were hypotensive on ED arrival, leaving 490 normotensive ED patients. Of 490 patients, 35 (7%) had PH and 455 (93%) had no PH. Multiple logistic regression showed the PH group to have a relative risk for death of 4.4 (95% CI: 1.2–16.6, p < 0.03) and for chest or abdominal operative intervention of 2.9 (1.1–7.6, p < 0.03). In this study of normotensive trauma center patients, prehospital hypotension was associated with increased risk of mortality and significant chest or abdominal injury. © 2003 Elsevier Inc.
The Effect of TDZ and 2, 4-D Concentrations on the Induction of Somatic Embryo and Embryogenesis in Different Cocoa Genotypes

The effect of 2, 4-D and TDZ concentrations on primary embryogenesis seem to be genotype dependent. There were significant differences between the control and the other treatments on somatic embryo production by genotype AMAZ 3-2. Genotype COCA 3370-5 did not show any significant difference among the treatments with 1mg/l 2, 4-D + 1µg/l TDZ, 1mg/l 2,4-D + 10µg/l TDZ and the control treatment. Treatment 2mg/l 2, 4-D + 10µg/l TDZ seem to be better for the production of somatic embryos by genotype COCA 3370-5. Lower concentrations of 2, 4-D + TDZ seem to generate greater proportions of normal somatic embryos as compared with higher 2,4-D + TDZ by genotypes AMAZ 3-2 and COCA3370-5 Somatic embryogenesis using floral tissue explants was used to induce primary somatic embryos from the staminodes of 16 cocoa genotypes. Four genotypes (AMAZ 3-2, AMAZ 10-1, COCA 3370-5 and GU 183H) showed high frequencies of embryogenesis while the remaining genotypes generated little or no embryos. Secondary embryos were induced from the cotyledonary explants of the four genotypes that exhibited efficient primary embryogenesis. Percentage embryogenesis generally increased with culture time. GU 183 which demonstrated the highest primary and secondary embryogenesis recorded the lowest conversion rate of somatic embryo into plantlets.
Experimental Study on the Dynamics of Lumbosacral Nerve Root Circulation

Study Design. Experimental investigation of the dynamics of nerve root circulation. Objectives. To study the dynamics of lumbosacral nerve root circulation by using seriography in dogs. Summary of Background Data. The vascular distribution to the nerve root has been discussed mainly from the morphologic aspects, and no adequate elucidation has been presented concerning the kinetics of the blood supply to the nerve root. Methods. To investigate the direction of blood flow in the nerve roots, a series of photographs of the cauda equina were taken using a motor-driven camera immediately after 3 mL of india ink was injected through the aortic catheter manually. The changes in the blood flow direction caused by compression of the nerve root also were observed. After the dog was killed, the nerve roots were cleared by the Spalteholz technique to identify the vessels observed during the experiment. Results. The blood flow in the radicular arteries was descending in the proximal part and ascending in the distal part of the nerve roots. This observation supports the suggestion that there is a so-called watershed of the blood flow in the radicular arteries themselves. However, when the ascending radicular artery of the nerve root was cramped, the radicular blood flow on the proximal side was downward. The microangiograms also showed that there were abundant anastomoses of intrinsic vessels in the nerve roots. Conclusions. There is no relatively hypovascular region in the nerve root that is vulnerable in the course of degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine. Therefore, it is unlikely that the watershed represents a weak point of the blood flow in the nerve root.
The Concept of Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers Ten Years On: Progress, Limitations, and Challenges

Abstract The modification of the physical environment by organisms is a critical interaction in most ecosystems. The concept of ecosystem engineering acknowledges this fact and allows ecologists to develop the conceptual tools for uncovering general patterns and building broadly applicable models. Although the concept has occasioned some controversy during its development, it is quickly gaining acceptance among ecologists. We outline the nature of some of these controversies and describe some of the major insights gained by viewing ecological systems through the lens of ecosystem engineering. We close by discussing areas of research where we believe the concept of organisms as ecosystem engineers will be most likely to lead to significant insights into the structure and function of ecological systems.
Pharmacology of lazaroids and brain energy metabolism: a review.

### A. Background A considerable body of experimental evidence indicates that lipid peroxidation ([Komara et al., 1986][1]; [Dexter et al., 1989][2]), the presence of iron ([Riederer et al., 1989][3]; [Hirsh et al., 1991][4]) and the depletion of natural antioxidants ([Sato and Hall, 1992][5]) seem
GSCALER: Synthetically Scaling A Given Graph

Enterprises and researchers often have datasets that can be represented as graphs (e.g. social networks). The owner of a large graph may want to scale it down to a smaller version, e.g. for application development. On the other hand, the owner of a small graph may want to scale it up to a larger version, e.g. to test system scalability. This paper investigates the Graph Scaling Problem (GSP): Given a directed graph G and positive integers n and m, generate a similar directed graph G with n nodes and m edges. This paper presents a graph scaling algorithm Gscaler for GSP. Analogous to DNA shotgun sequencing, Gscaler, decomposes G into small pieces, scales them, then uses the scaled pieces to construct G. This construction is based on the indegree/outdegree correlation of nodes and edges. Extensive tests with real graphs show that Gscaler is scalable and, for many graph properties, it generates a G that has greater similarity to G than other state-of-the-art solutions, like Stochastic Kronecker Graph and UpSizeR.
The Effect of Lactate and pH on Proteoglycan and Protein Synthesis Rates in the Intervertebral Disc

The intervertebral disc is the largest avascular tissue in the body. Its metabolism is mainly anaerobic, and thus lactate is produced at a significant rate. As a result the lactate concentrations in the center of the disc may be 8–10 times as high as in the plasma. The pH in the disc center is thus acidic. Because low values of pH are known to affect proteoglycan synthesis in other cartilages, the authors measured the effect of lactate levels and pH on 35S-sulphate and 3H-proline incorporation rates in the nucleus of bovine coccygeal discs and in human disc obtained during percutaneous nucleotomy. The maximum incorporation rate occurred at pH 7.2-pH 6.9. Here the rate was 40–50% greater than at pH 7.4. Below pH 6.8 the rate fell steeply, more so for sulphate than for proline. At pH 6.3 the sulphate incorporation rate was around 20 percent that at pH 7.4. The results indicate that proteoglycan synthesis rates in particular are sensitive to extracellular pH, and that the peak rate occurs around the level of pH seen in vivo. Factors that cause lactate levels to rise, such as a fail in O2 levels as the result of smoking or vibration (Holm and Nachemson, 1988) could lead to a fall in proteoglycan synthesis rates, ultimately leading to a fall in proteoglycan content and to disc degeneration.
Curvature Driven Phase Separation in Mixed Ligand Coated Gold Nanoparticles

Monolayer-coated gold nanoparticles have been the subject of extensive studies in fields ranging from physics to medicine. The properties of these nanomaterials such as solubility and surface energy are often attributed solely to the chemical functionalities of the ligand head-groups. However, the morphology of these monomolecular layers on gold nanoparticles plays as important of a role as the surface chemistry. Intriguing phaseseparation phenomena have been observed for mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of octanethiol (OT) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) on the surface of gold nanoparticles. These ordered structures are studied here through scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images, as a function of the gold core diameter, which is a measure of the particle's curvature. The packing of OT homoligand nanoparticles is found to have a head-group spacing of 0.54 nm, which differs from that on flat gold (111) surfaces, 0.5 nm. The OT:MPA heteroligand nanoparticles are observed to phase-separate into ordered ribbon-like domains, with spacings that depend on the nanoparticle diameter. A geometric framework that includes a continuous and crystallographic description is established to best describe the observed behaviors.
Selecting basic safety messages to verify in VANETs using zone priority

Basic Safety Messages (BSMs) are an important message type used in safety applications in VANETs. When a vehicle receives a BSM it should verify the signature using cryptographic techniques. However as BSMs are periodically broadcast by all vehicles, the number received per second will exceed the verification capability of on-board units in high density traffic areas. We propose a flexible, zone priority-based scheme to select the most important BSMs to verify first. We consider the zone of the sending vehicle (i.e. vehicles in opposite direction which have already passed as least important), as well as position, acceleration and velocity of vehicles in ranking BSMs. Compared to existing techniques that use random or distance-based verification, simulation results show our scheme can better select the more important messages to verify first.
A ‘complex solution’ to a ‘complex’ problem: tackling the complexity of cancer with botanicals

Several biological and physical factors confer complexity on cancer, which may be responsible for its associated morbidity. The successful management of this hyperproliferative disease is beyond the realm of therapeutics that may include the use of a single or at times a combination of treatment modalities. It is apparent that prevention with complex agents such as botanicals could serve as a possible potential solution. The present review focuses on the aspects of cancer that contribute toward making it an extremely complex disease and that may be tackled effectively with the use of ‘multicomponent’ botanicals.
Evaluation of equine peripheral blood apheresis product, bone marrow, and adipose tissue as sources of mesenchymal stem cells and their differentation potential.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of apheresis on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and compare those MSCs with MSCs obtained from adipose tissue or bone marrow (BM). SAMPLE POPULATION Samples obtained from 6 adult horses. PROCEDURES Samples of blood from a peripheral vein, adipose tissue, and BM aspirate were obtained from each horse. Samples were processed via apheresis of blood and techniques reported elsewhere for adipose tissue and BM. Cultures were maintained until adherence and subsequently were subjected to differentiation protocols to evaluate adipogenic, osteoblastogenic, and chondrogenic potential. RESULTS Apheresis product had a significantly higher mononuclear percentage, higher platelet count, and lower RBC count, compared with values for peripheral blood. No cell adherence to the tissue culture plates was detected for the apheresis product. Adherence was detected for 6 of 6 adipose-derived and 4 of 6 BM-derived samples. Variations in efficiency were detected for differentiation of adipose- and BM-derived cells into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Apheresis was able to concentrate mononuclear cells and reduce RBC contamination. However, the apheresis product was unable to adhere to the tissue culture plates. In matched horses, adipose- and BM-derived MSCs were capable of producing lipids, glycosaminoglycan, and mineral. The BM was vastly superior to adipose tissue as a source of MSCs with osteoblastogenic potential in matched horses. Additional studies will be necessary to optimize apheresis techniques for horses before peripheral blood can be considered a suitable source for multipotential cells for use in cell-based treatments.
Identificação de Perfis de Torcedores no Twitter

O objetivo deste trabalho e investigar a existencia de padroes de torcedores no Twitter, centrando a analise nas caracteristicas de espaco e tempo de mensagens de fas, quando relacionados a seu time de futebol, propondo a uma relacao com os eventos que compoem o campeonato.
Diabetes and cognitive outcomes in a nationally representative sample: the National Health and Aging Trends Study

ABSTRACT Background: The prevalence of both type II diabetes mellitus (DM) and cognitive impairment is high and increasing in older adults. We examined the extent to which DM diagnosis was associated with poorer cognitive performance and dementia diagnosis in a population-based cohort of US older adults. Methods: We studied 7,606 participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative cohort of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older. DM and dementia diagnosis were based on self-report from participants or proxy respondents, and participants completed a word-list memory test, the Clock Drawing Test, and gave a subjective assessment of their own memory. Results: In unadjusted analyses, self-reported DM diagnosis was associated with poorer immediate and delayed word recall, worse performance on the Clock Drawing Test, and poorer self-rated memory. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, body mass index, depression and anxiety symptoms, and medical conditions, DM was associated with poorer immediate and delayed word recall and poorer self-rated memory, but not with the Clock Drawing Test performance or self-reported dementia diagnosis. After excluding participants with a history of stroke, DM diagnosis was associated with poorer immediate and delayed word recall and the Clock Drawing Test performance, and poorer self-rated memory, but not with self-reported dementia diagnosis. Conclusions: In this recent representative sample of older Medicare enrollees, self-reported DM was associated with poorer cognitive test performance. Findings provide further support for DM as a potential risk factor for poor cognitive outcomes. Studies are needed that investigate whether DM treatment prevents cognitive decline.