Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Thyroiditis in Complement Intact and Deficient Mice Following Injections of Heterologous Thyroglobulins without Adjuvant∗

Summary Experimental thyroiditis and thyroglobulin autoantibodies have been produced in both complement intact and deficient mice by injections of a mixture of heterologous (cross-reacting) thyroglobulins without adjuvant. The severity of the immune response and incidence of thyroid lesions in mice varied from strain to strain. The Swiss Webster and A/JAX strains had the highest mean hemagglutinating antibody titer to homologous thyroglobulin in addition to being susceptible to thyroid lesions, whereas the complement intact and deficient strains of B10-D2/SN new line, DBA/1J, B10-D2/SN old line and DBA/2J showed autoantibody production without any definite thyroid lesions. Present data do not substantiate a necessary role for components of complement which are activated after the third component of complement in the production of either thyroiditis or autoantibodies in mice.
Efficient Variants of the Vertex Space Domain Decomposition Algorithm

Several variants of the vertex space algorithm of Smith for two-dimensional elliptic problems are described. The vertex space algorithm is a domain decomposition method based on nonoverlapping subregions, in which the reduced Schur complement system on the interface is solved using a generalized block Jacobi-type preconditioner, with the blocks corresponding to the vertex space, edges, and a coarse grid. Two kinds of approximations are considered for the edge and vertex space subblocks, one based on Fourier approximation, and another based on an algebraic probing technique in which sparse approximations to these subblocks are computed. Our motivation is to improve the efficiency of the algorithm without sacrificing the optimal convergence rate. Numerical and theoretical results on the performance of these algorithms, including variants of an algorithm of Bramble, Pasciak, and Schatz are presented.
A newly-developed model for predicting cutting power during wood sawing with circular saw blades

In the classical approach, cutting forces and cutting power in sawing processes of orthotropic materials such as wood are generally calculated on the basis of the specific cutting resistance kc (cutting force per unit area of cut). For every type of sawing kinematics (frame saws, band saws and circular sawing machines) different empirical values of specific cutting resistance kc have to be applied. It should be emphasised that sources in the scientific literature and handbooks do not provide any information about wood provenance, nor about cutting conditions in which cutting resistance had been determined. In analyses of sawing processes in which the offcut is formed by shear, Atkins’s ideas that all cutting forms a branch of elastoplastic fracture mechanics can be applied. Thanks to this modern approach it was possible to reveal, using experimental results data of fracture toughness and shear yield stresses of Polish pine (Pinus sylvestris), the significant effect of the raw material provenance (source of wood) on cutting power. In the common model for circular sawing machine kinematics, which is similar to metal milling, the sum of all uncut chip thicknesses of the all the teeth simultaneously engaged represented the mean uncut chip thickness. In this work predictions of the newly-developed model for the circular sawing machine are presented. In the model, beside uncut chip thicknesses changes, appropriate changes in shear yield stress and toughness with tooth/grain orientation have been taken into account. The conducted analyses have demonstrated that values of RMS of cutting power obtained with the new developed model are slightly larger than experimental values. On the other hand computed values of cutting power with the use of the mean uncut chip thicknesses in the model are a bit lower from the empirical one.
Human sepsis-associated Escherichia coli (SEPEC) is able to adhere to and invade kidney epithelial cells in culture

The adhesins of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli are essential for mediating direct interactions between the microbes and the host cell surfaces that they infect. Using fluorescence microscopy and gentamycin protection assays, we observed that 49 sepsis-associated E. coli (SEPEC) strains isolated from human adults adhered to and invaded Vero cells in the presence of D-mannose (100%). In addition, bacteria concentrations of approximately 2 × 107 CFU/mL were recovered from Vero cells following an invasion assay. Furthermore, PCR analysis of adhesin genes showed that 98.0% of these SEPEC strains tested positive for fimH, 69.4% for flu, 53.1% for csgA, 38.8% for mat, and 32.7% for iha. Analysis of the invasin genes showed that 16.3% of the SEPEC strains were positive for tia, 12.3% for gimB, and 10.2% for ibeA. Therefore, these data suggest that SEPEC adhesion to cell surfaces occurs through non-fimH mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of microcolonies on the Vero cell surface. SEPEC invasiveness was also confirmed by the presence of intracellular bacteria, and ultrastructural analysis using electron transmission microscopy revealed bacteria inside the Vero cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that these SEPEC strains had the ability to adhere to and invade Vero cells. Moreover, these data support the theory that renal cells may be the predominant pathway through which SEPEC enters human blood vessels.
Critical parameters in the MCF-7 cell proliferation bioassay (E-Screen)

The MCF-7 cell proliferation bioassay has grown in popularity as a rapid test for detecting potentially oestrogenic compounds. Several MCF-7 cell sublines with different sensitivities to oestrogens are currently used, with maximal proliferation responses ranging from two- to 10-fold above those of hormone-free controls. In the highly responsive MCF-7 BUS cell line, we evaluated critical assay parameters for test performance, including growth conditions, initial seeding densities and differences in growth stimulation in medium containing human serum or fetal calf serum as well as appropriate solvents for oestrogen-mimicking compounds. Modifications significantly reduced the labour-intensive steps and overall assay costs without affecting the sensitivity of the assay. Using this optimized test regimen, the responsiveness of treated MCF-7 BUS cells was consistently increased up to 11-fold over hormone-free controls. The specificity was characterized by examining the effects of oestradiol-17β, the anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780, and dieldrin, a recognized xeno-oestrogen. The improved proliferation bioassay will be a useful tool in identifying potential xeno-oestrogens.
[Effect of haw leaf extract and its preparation on polymorphonuclear leucocyte adhesion during HUVEC anoxia/reoxygenation injury].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect and molecular mechanism of two haw leaf extracts, Vitexin-rhamnoside (VR) and Vitexin-glucoside (VG), and their preparation, Aoshaen injection (AI), on the polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) adhesion during human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury. METHODS The cell model of A/R injury duplicated by breaking off the oxygen supplying of HUVEC for 60 min followed with reoxygenating for 30 min (phase 1) or 240 min (phase 2) was taken as the experimental objective. The effects of testing drugs (VR, VG and AI) on PMN adhesion in the model cells were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and their effects on PMN superficial adhesion molecule CD11/CD18 expression were measured by flow cytometer respectively. RESULTS After 60 min of anoxia, HUVEC was shrunk and deformed. The adhesion between PMN and HUVEC significantly revealed at phase 1 in the model group, but it was fewer in the normal cell group, and also lesser in the groups treated with various drugs. The condition of cell adhesion revealed at phase 2 was the similar to that at phase 1. All testing drugs, VR, VG and AI, showed inhibitory effect on the cell adhesion at either phase 1 or phase 2, showing a certain dose-effect relationship. The expression of CD11/ CD18 was also inhibited by the testing drugs, and a good dose-effect relation was shown by VG and AI. CONCLUSION At the resting condition, there are almost no expression of CD11/CD18 molecule, but it could be enhanced by incubating PMN with supernate of A/R injured HUVEC culture, and more marked at phase 1. Adding the test drugs into the supernate could inhibit the enhancing of CD11/CD18 molecule expression and reduce the PMN-HUVEC adhesion, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms of haw leaf extracts and their preparation in protecting heart against A/R injury.
Sharing and archiving nucleic acid structure mapping data.

Nucleic acids are particularly amenable to structural characterization using chemical and enzymatic probes. Each individual structure mapping experiment reveals specific information about the structure and/or dynamics of the nucleic acid. Currently, there is no simple approach for making these data publically available in a standardized format. We therefore developed a standard for reporting the results of single nucleotide resolution nucleic acid structure mapping experiments, or SNRNASMs. We propose a schema for sharing nucleic acid chemical probing data that uses generic public servers for storing, retrieving, and searching the data. We have also developed a consistent nomenclature (ontology) within the Ontology of Biomedical Investigations (OBI), which provides unique identifiers (termed persistent URLs, or PURLs) for classifying the data. Links to standardized data sets shared using our proposed format along with a tutorial and links to templates can be found at http://snrnasm.bio. unc.edu.
Regulation of a Calcium-dependent Tyrosine Kinase in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Angiotensin II and Platelet-derived Growth Factor

A novel, p125FAK homologue, CADTK, has been detected in neural, epithelial, or hematopoietic cells but not in fibroblasts. We now demonstrate CADTK expression in a mesenchymal cell, rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RSMC). Angiotensin II (Ang II) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA) markedly stimulated CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation in RSMC but did not affect p125FAK phosphorylation. The PDGF-dependent CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation was slower and more prolonged than that of Ang II, correlating well with the differential effects of these agonists on cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+] i ) signaling. An intracellular calcium chelator inhibited both the rapid and sustained activation of CADTK by Ang II and PDGF. Extracellular calcium chelation inhibited the PDGF-stimulated increase in CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation as well as the sustained (but not the early) activation by Ang II. In contrast, p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation was maximal in quiescent, adherent RSMC and was not affected by incubation with EGTA. Depletion of protein kinase C activity partially inhibited both the Ang II- and PDGF-induced CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation. Additional results confirm a relation between CADTK and the cytoskeleton. First, the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin correlated with activation of CADTK; this increase was inhibited by EGTA. Second, cytochalasin D blocked the PDGF- or Ang II-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of CADTK, suggesting a role for the cytoskeleton in agonist-dependent CADTK activation. Third, immunofluorescence analysis of CADTK localization demonstrated actin-like cytoskeleton staining extending into focal contacts. These results suggest that in mesenchymal cells, CADTK is localized to and activated by an actin cytoskeleton-dependent mechanism; a mechanism that is regulated in a calcium and protein kinase C-dependent manner independently of p125FAK.
Schlank trotz genetischer Prädisposition für Adipositas – Beeinflussung von Umweltfaktoren als Chance? Eine Kasuistik

Anamnese und klinischer Befund: MC4R Genetische Untersuchung und Diagnose: Therapie und Verlauf: MC4R Folgerung: Case history and clinical findings: MC4R Genetic analysis and diagnosis: MC4R Treatment and course: MC4R Conclusion:
The human Cathelicidin LL-37 induces MUC5AC mucin production by airway epithelial cells via TACE-TGF-α-EGFR pathway

ABSTRACT Aim: To investigate the mechanism for LL-37 inducing MUC5AC mucin production in airway epithelial cells. Materials and Methods: The airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells were stimulated with various concentrations of LL-37 synthetic peptide and scrambled LL-37 (sLL-37) synthetic peptide ranged from 2.5 to 10 μg/mL. The effects of LL-37 and sLL-37 on TNF-α-converting enzyme (TACE) and EGFR activation and MUC5AC mucin production were evaluated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay, Western blotting and ELISA respectively. Furthermore, we measured changes of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) in culture supernatants. A serious of inhibitors including TACE inhibitor TAPI-1, EGFR inhibitor AG1478, EGFR-neutralizing antibody, TGF-α-neutralizing antibody, amphiregulin (AR)-neutralizing antibody, and heparin binding-epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF)-neutralizing antibody were used to block the signaling pathway. Human serum and FBS were also used to investigate the effects of serum on LL-37-induced MUC5AC mucin production. Results: LL-37 induced TACE and EGFR activation, as well as TGF-α and MUC5AC mucin production by NCI-H292 cells in a dose-dependent manner. EGFR-neutralizing antibody and AG1478 inhibited LL-37-induced EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production, whereas TGF-α-neutralizing antibody increased LL-37-induced TGF-α production. TAPI-1 inhibited LL-37-induced TGF-α production, EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production, whereas TGF-α-neutralizing antibody, but not AR- or HB-EGF-neutralizing antibody, inhibited LL-37-induced EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production in NCI-H292 cells. The sLL-37 had no effect on TACE and EGFR activation and MUC5AC mucin production. Additionally, Human serum, rather than FBS, inhibited LL-37-induced MUC5AC mucin production. Conclusions: LL-37 induces MUC5AC mucin production by airway epithelial cells via TACE-TGF-α-EGFR pathway.
Fish Oil-Fed Mice Have Impaired Resistance to Influenza Infection

Abstract Dietary fish oils, rich in (n-3) PUFA, including eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, have been shown to have antiinflammatory properties. Although the antiinflammatory properties of fish oil may be beneficial during a chronic inflammatory illness, the same antiinflammatory properties can suppress the inflammatory responses necessary to combat acute viral infection. Given that (n-3) fatty acid-rich fish oil supplementation is on the rise and with the increasing threat of an influenza pandemic, we tested the effect of fish oil feeding for 2 wk on the immune response to influenza virus infection. Male C57BL/6 mice fed either a menhaden fish oil/corn oil diet (4 g fish oil:1 g corn oil, wt:wt at 5 g/100 g diet) or a control corn oil diet were infected with influenza A/PuertoRico/8/34 and analyzed for lung pathology and immune function. Although fish oil-fed mice had lower lung inflammation compared with controls, fish oil feeding also resulted in a 40% higher mortality rate, a 70% higher lung viral load at d 7 post infection, and a prolonged recovery period following infection. Although splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity was suppressed in fish oil-fed mice, lung NK activity was not affected. Additionally, lungs of infected fish oil-fed mice had significantly fewer CD8+ T cells and decreased mRNA expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1-α, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. These results suggest that the antiinflammatory properties of fish oil feeding can alter the immune response to influenza infection, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.
The Annual Range of Southern Hemisphere SST: Comparison with Surface Heating and Possible Reasons for the High-Latitude Falloff*

Abstract Globally, the seasonal cycle is the largest single component of observed sea surface temperature (SST) variability, yet it is still not fully understood. Herein, the degree to which the structure of the seasonal cycle of Southern Hemisphere SST can be explained by the present understanding of surface fluxes and upper-ocean physics is examined. It has long been known that the annual range of Southern Hemisphere SST is largest in the midlatitudes, despite the fact that the annual range of net surface heat flux peaks well poleward of the SST peak. The reasons for this discrepancy (“falloff of the annual range of SST”) are determined here through analysis of net surface heat flux estimates, observed SST, and mixed layer depth data, and results from experiments using two different one-dimensional ocean models. Results show that (i) the classical explanations for the structure of the annual range of SST in the Southern Hemisphere are incomplete, (ii) current estimates of surface heat flux and mixed lay.
The effect of bisdioxopiperazines on the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid and protein in growing mouse-embryo fibroblasts.

A series of derivatives of EDTA, the bisdioxopiperazines, have been synthesized as potential intracellularly activated chelating agents (A. M. Creighton, unpublished work). Several of these compounds show anti-tumour activity against sarcoma S180 and leukaemia L 1210 tumours in mice (Creighton, Hellmann & Whitecross, 1969). To determine the effect of these drugs on the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in cultured mammalian cells, we measured the changes in the rates ofincorporation of [3H]thymidine, [3H]uridine and [3H]leucine by mouse-embryo fibroblasts incubated with the drugs under various conditions. Secondary mouse-embryo fibroblasts were cultured on squares of stainless steel (Birnie & Simons, 1967). After 24hr. at 370, an aqueous solution of the drug was added to the culture medium and, after further incubation, the cell cultures were pulsed for lhr. with 1,uc/ml. amounts of [6-3H]thymidine (15 c/m-mole), [5-3H]uridine (5 c/mmole), or L-[4,5-3H]leucine (22 c/m-mole). The amount of radioactivity incorporated into acidinsoluble material was measured as described by Birnie, Fox & Simons (1968). Incubation of cell cultures with 4 5,ug. of (± )1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazin1 -yl)propane (ICRF 159)/ml. for 1 hr. inhibited the subsequent incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA by 21%; this inhibition increased to 52% after 21 hr. of drug treatment. In contrast, after incubation with ICRF 159 (4.5,g./ml.) for 21hr. , the incorporation of [3H]uridine into RNA and [3H]leucine into protein was inhibited by only 10% and 12% respectively. Even 0 6,ug. of ICRF 159/ml. inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation by 22% after 21 hr. , and 60,g. of the drug/ml. inhibited [3H]DNA synthesis by 70%. Among analogues ofICRF 159, significant activity was confined to a group of compounds structurally very closely related to ICRF 159, including 1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazin-1-yl)ethane, tran8-1,2-bis-(3,5dioxopiperazin-1-yl)cyclobutane and me8o-2,3-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazin-1-yl)butane (ICRF 193), the most potent compound tested; incubation with O01,Ig. of ICRF 193/mi. for 21hr. inhibited subsequent incorporation of [3H]thymidine by 66%. In contrast, the stereoisomer (± )-2,3-bis-(3,5dioxopiperazin-1-yl)butane was inactive, as were a number of acyclic derivatives including some of the hydrolytic products ofthese compounds. The effect of these substances on [3H]thymidine incorporation correlated well with their activity against experimental tumours in vivo (Creighton et al. 1969). Possible mechanisms of action of ICRF 159 are being investigated and will be discussed.
Phase angle compensation control strategy for low voltage ride through of doubly-fed induction generator

Crowbar-based control is one of the main low voltage ride through (LVRT) control methods for doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), but converter is still at risk of being damaged by over-current at rotor side after crowbar exits during fault recovering period. For the issue, a model for fault process analysis based on equivalent dynamic model of DFIG is established. The mechanism of phase angle jumping when fault occurring and grid voltage recovering and its impact on vector orientating precision are analyzed. Based on this, jumping phase angle compensation principle is proposed to improve existing LVRT control strategy. Then the process of control is divided into four periods, i.e., normal operation period, crowbar switching period, crowbar exiting period and grid voltage recovering period. In normal operation and crowbar exiting period, stator flux orientation control of DFIG is applied. In crowbar switching period, IGBT pulses of rotor side converter are locked, but grid side converter maintains normal operation. In grid voltage recovering period, phase angle compensation control is applied. Simulation results show that over-current in grid voltage recovering period can be effectively limited by the proposed control strategy.
Skeletal Muscle of Female Rats Exhibit Higher Mitochondrial Mass and Oxidative-Phosphorylative Capacities Compared to Males

The effect of gender and caloric restriction on mitochondrial content and oxidative-phosphorylative capacities has been investigated in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle protein, mitochondrial protein and DNA contents, enzymatic activities of mitochondrial oxidative and phosphorylative system, mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, protein levels of complex IV (subunit I and IV) and ATPase, and the gene and protein expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), involved in mitochondrial replication and transcription, were measured in rats of both genders fed ad libitum and subjected to three months of 40% caloric restriction. Compared to males, gastrocnemius muscle of female rats showed higher mitochondrial DNA and protein contents, TFAM protein level, oxidative and phosphorylative machinery and activities, and glutathione peroxidase activity. In conclusion, the present data show a clear gender dimorphism in rat muscle mitochondrial features, which could explain the higher facility of females to adapt to altered metabolic energy situations.
Radioimmunodetection of Melanoma: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Study

A prospective study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of radioimmunodetection of melanoma in clinical practice is ongoing at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy. Technical conditions for the application of the method were previously reported. In this trial, 99mTc-labelled F(ab’) 2 fragments of the 225.28S monoclonal antibody were used against a high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA). Retrospective studies on radioimmunodetection of melanoma have already been made by our group and by other Centers in about 300 patients. This study concerns the evaluation of the regional extension of primary melanoma. 23 patients with 32 suspected lymphatic involvements of melanoma on the trunk and arms underwent immunoscintigraphy. No false positive results were observed; 3 false negatives, one corresponding to a micrometastasis, were noticed. Specificity corresponds to 100% and sensitivity to 78.6%.
Exercise enhances hippocampal‐dependent learning in the rat: Evidence for a BDNF‐related mechanism

Short periods of forced exercise have been reported to selectively induce enhancements in hippocampal‐dependent cognitive function, possibly via brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐mediated mechanisms. In this study, we report that 1 week of treadmill running significantly enhanced both object displacement (spatial) and object substitution (nonspatial) learning. These behavioral changes were accompanied by increased expression of BDNF protein in the dentate gyrus, hippocampus, and perirhinal cortex. The effects of exercise on object substitution were mimicked by intracerebroventricular injection of BDNF protein. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that exercise has the potential to enhance cognitive function in young healthy rats, possibly via a mechanism involving increased BDNF expression in specific brain regions. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.